THE 


•£    UNITED  STATES 

SECRET  SERVICE 


IN  THE  LATE  WAR. 

COMPRISING 

THE   AUTHOR'S   INTRODUCTION   TO    THE    LEADING    MEN   AT 

WASHINGTON,  WITH  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

ORGANIZATION 

OF  THE 

United  StateS;§e<??,et  Service  Bureau, 

AND^A  GRAPHIC  rflSTORY1  OI? 

RICH  AND  EXeiffN^EXPMENCES, 

NORTH  AND  SOUTH. 

PERILOUS  ADVENTURES,  HAIRBREADTH  ESCAPES,  AND  VAI,UABI,E  SERVICES 
OF  THE  DETECTIVE  POLICE. 


GENERAL  LA  FAYETTE  C.  BAKER, 

ORGANIZER  AND   FIRST  CHIEF  OF  THE 

National  Secret   Service   Bureau  of  the  United   States,   Etc. 

EMBELLISHED 

WITH  A  PROFUSE  GALAXY  OF  MAGNIFICENT  FULL-PAGE 
ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  EXQUISITE  BEAUTY, 

RNGRAVRD  ON  STEEL,,  WOOD  AND  STONE  BY  OUR  SPECIAL,  CORPS  OF  ARTISTS 

INCLUDING 

F,  B.  SCHELL,  E.  B.  BEN3ELL,  J.  M.  BUTLER  AND  OTHERS. 


CHICAGO,    ILL  I 

L.  P.  MILLER  &  COMPANY. 

1889. 


COPYRIGHT 

BY  JOHN  E.  POTTER  &  CO., 
1889. 


CRUTION. 

Every  Engraving,  as  well  as  every  Colored  Plate  con 
tained  in  this  book  being  protected  by  copyright,  we 
desire  to  caution  all  persons  against  their  reproduction  in 
any  form.  Any  one  so  offending  will  be  prosecuted, 


¥ 


DEDICATION 

TO  THE  AMERICAN   PEOPLE. 

To  the  People  of  this  Great  Nation, 

And  more  especially 

TO  THE  BRAVE  BOYS  IN  BLUE  AND  THEIR  HEROIC  LEADERS, 

Who  so  Gallantly  and  Valorously  bore  our  Country 

Through    the    Pestilential    Ordeal    of    Secession    and    the 
Great    Civil    War, 

And  who  lifted  the  dark  pall  of  Slavery  from  our  National 
Escutcheon,  restoring,  with  new  lustre, 

A  BRIGHTNESS  THAT  CAN  NEVER  AGAIN  BE  SHADOWED, 

This  Volume  of  True  and  Stirring  Narrative  is 

Earnestly,  Affectionately  and  Patriotically  Dedicated   by  their 
Humble  and   Devoted  Servant, 


KAYKTTK  C.  BA.KKR, 

LATE  CHIEF  OF  THE  NATIONAL  SECRET  SERVICE   BUREAU. 


PREFACE. 


IN  giving  to  the  public  this  volume,  it  has  been  the 
design  to  present  the  operations  of  the  Bureau  of  the  Nation 
al  Detective  Police  during  the  war,  so  far  as  it  is  proper  to 
makp  them  known  to  the  people.  It  is  not  a  book  of  roman 
tic  adventures,  but  a  narrative  of  facts  in  the  secret  history 
of  the  conflict,  and  mainly  an  exposure  of  the  manifold  and 
gigantic  frauds  and  crimes  of  both  the  openly  disloyal  and 
the  professed  friends  of  the  Republic.  Many  reports  are 
introduced,  some  of  which  are  lengthy,  and  portions  of  them 
are  dry,  because  they  are  the  official  records  of  the  work 
done,  and  the  verification  of  the  statements  made,  and  the 
highest  vindication  of  the  character  and  importance  of  the 
secret  service.  Passages  occur  in  them,  the  propriety  of 
which  many  readers  may  question,  but  their  omission  would 
have  weakened  the  strength  of  the  reports,  and  softened 
down  the  enormity  of  the  offenses  charged  upon  certain 
individuals.  The  whole  volume  might  have  been  made  up 
of  chapters  very  similar  to  those  of  the  first  hundred  pages 
or  more,  but  we  preferred  to  sacrifice  the  peculiar  interest, 
to  some  extent,  of  a  merely  sensational  work — sketches  of 
exciting  scenes  and  hair-breadth  escapes — for  the  greater 
object  of  an  authentic  official  record  of  the  vast  amount  of 
indispensable  service  rendered  to  the  Government,  during 
nearly  four  years  of  bloody  strife,  with  the  months  of  trial 


6  PREFACE. 

and  agitation  which  followed.  The  plan  of  the  book  was, 
therefore,  chosen  by  the  responsible  head  of  the  bureau, 
while  the  introductory  chapters  were  written  by  another, 
whose,  editoral  aid  was  secured  in  the  general  preparation 
of  the  annals  for  the  press.  No  desire  or  effort  has  been 
cherished  to  wantonly  expose  or  wound  in  feeling  any 
man,  and  therefore  initials,  for  the  most  part,  alone  ap 
pear  ;  but  a  faithful  history  of  transactions  under  the 
authority  delegated  to  the  Bureau,  will  unavoidably 
reach  the  sensibilities  of  persons  of  distinction,  no  less 
than  those  in  humble  life. 

The  volume  of  war  records,  the  most  of  which  have 
never  before  met  the  public  eye,  is  offered  to  the  people 
as  a  part  of  the  veritable  history  of  the  most  extraordi 
nary  and  perilous  times  the  Republic  has  known,  or  ia 
likely  to  pass  through  again. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

GENERAL    BAKER   AND   THE   BUREAU   OF   SECRET   SERVICE. 

Fhe  Ancestry  and  Birth-place  of  General  Baker— His  Early  Life— Residence  im 
California— Ls  a  Member  of  the  Vigilance  Committee— Returns  to  New 
York  in  1861— Visits  Washington— Interview  with  General  Scott— Enters 
the  Secret  Service— The  Great  Facts  established  and  illustrated  by  these 
Annals...  17 


CHAPTER  I. 

ORIGIN    OF  THE   BUREAU   OF   DETECTIVE   SERVICE. 

The  trst  visit  to  Washington— Interview  with  General  Hiram  Walbridge,  and 
Hon.  W.  D.  Kelley— Introduction  to  General  Winfield  Scott— Return  to 
New  York— Appointed  by  General  Scott  to  renew  the  Attempt  to  visit  Rich 
mond—The  first  Failure— Crossing  the  Lines— The  Arrest— Examinations 
—Sent  to  General  Beauregard— On  to  Richmond 45 

CHAPTER  II. 

RESIDENCE   IN   RICHMOND. 

Summoned  to  an  interview  with  Jeff.  Davis — Subsequent  Examinations  by  him— 
Critical  Emergencies  —Mr.  Brock — "Samuel  Munson  " — Confidence  secured— - 
Mr.  "Munson  "  is  appointed  Confederate  Agent — Original  Letters  from  Davis, 
Toombs,  and  Walker— Starts  for  the  North— Unpleasant  Delays— A  Narrow 
Escape — Reaches  the  Po'omac— Deceives  the  Dutch  Fishermen  and  runs  the 
Rebel  Gauntlet  safely 58 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   III. 

NORTHERN   EXPERIENCES  AS  CONFEDERATE   AGENT. 

Hospitalities  by  the  way — The  Report  to  General  Scott — Operations  in  Balti 
more—The  Janus-faced  Unioniat — A  rich  Development  in  Philadelphia — The 
JLrrests — Amusing  Prison  Scene 75 

CHAPTER   IV. 

TREASON  AND  TRAITORS  AT  THE  NORTH. 

Baltimore — The  Detective  Service  and  the  Arrest  of  the  Maryland  Legislature— 
The  Refugee  and  the  Spy — The  Pursuit  and  the  Capture — Traitors  at  Niagara 
Falls — Acquaintance  with  them — The  Arrest — In  Fort  Lafayette 89 

CHAPTER  V. 

A  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   SQUARE. 

P.  H.  F.,  aliax  Carlisle  Murray,  a  Knight  of  the  Golden  Square — The  Arrest- 
Release — Papers  of  F.  examined — Secretary  Seward's  Order  for  a  Second 
Arrest — On  the  Track— The  Rural  Retreat — Mr.  Carlisle  Murray  a  Reformer 
and  Lover — The  Official  Writ — The  Astonished  Landlord  and  Landlady — A 
Scene—Report  99 

CHAPTER  VI. 

DISLOYALTY   AMONG  THE   POSTMASTERS. 

A  Mystery — The  Result  of  Cabinet  Meetings  in  Washington  known  in  Rich 
mond — The  Detectives  learn  the  Reason— A  Visit  to  Lower  Maryland — 
Amusing  Scenes— The  Mysterious  Box— The  Reports— A  Rebel  Letter JOS 

CHAPTER  VII. 

FRAUDS— DISLOYALTY   IN   MARYLAND. 

The  Freighted  Traveler— Treason  and  Frauds  overlooked  in  the  Rising  Storm 
of  Rebellion—  The  Bankers— The  Pretty  Smuggler— Reliable  Character  of 
the  Detective  Bureau— Disloyalty,  and  its  Punishments  in  Lower  Mary- 

land — The  Friends  of  Hon.  Montgomery  Blair  and  the  Quinine  Traffio 

44  Chunook  "  Telegrams 118 


CONTEXTS. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

OFFICIAL     SERVICES     AND     EMBARRASSMENTS — NEW     ORDER     OF 

THINGS. 

The  Bureau  transferred  to  the  War  Department — Dr.  H.,  and  the  Perilous 
Adventure  of  which  he  was  the  occasion — Report  of  the  Case — Arrest  of 
the  Leaders  of  a  great  secret  Southern  Organiiation — Documents  and 
Letters 133 

CHAPTER  IX. 
THE  BUREAU  IN  CANADA — IN  THE  ARMY. 

Tricks  of  False  Correspondence — Mr.  Delisle  and  the  "Secret  Secession  Le 
gation" 148 

CHAPTER   X. 

WEALTHY   TRAITORS — FRUITLESS   SCHEMES. 

John  H.  Waring — His  Operations — An  Efficient  Tool — Walter  Bowie — A 
Wild  Career— Rebel  Mail  —  Contrabands— Extracts  from  the  Private 
Journals  of  Rebel  Spies 153 

CHAPTER  XI. 

SLAVERY — PLAYING  REBEL  GENERAL — FIRST  DISTRICT  CAVALRY. 

The  Hostages — Mr.  Lincoln — Deceiving  the  Rebels — A  successful  Game — Or 
ganization  of  the  First  District  Cavalry — Its  Services lt>7 

CHAPTER  XII. 

FIRST   DISTRICT   CAVALRY. 

Leaving  Camp  again—"  Wilson's  Raid  "—Battles— The  Escape  of  Kautz — 

The  End  of  Regimental  Service 190 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE   ANIMUS   OF  'SECESSION. 

A  Disloyal  Pastor  and  his  Friends  compelled  to  "do  justly"— The  "Peculiar 
Institution"  Dies  Hard— Man-Stealers  Foiled  in  their  Schemes  of 
Robbery ..  204 


10  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

ENGLISH   SYMPATHY  WITH    THE   SOUTH — NEGRO-HATE   IN    WASH 
INGTON. 

An  English  Emissary  of  the  South — He  Deceives  the  Secretary  of  State — My 
Acquaintance  with  Him — The  Fruitless  Effort  to  Betray  Me — The  Jour 
ney  to  the  Old  Capitol  Prison — Negro-hate  in  the  National  Capital 209 

CHAPTER   XV. 

GIGANTIC   VICES   OF   THE   NATIONAL   CAPITAL. 

Gambling  and  the  Gamblers — The  Purpose  to  Break  up  the  Dens  Discouraged 
— The  Midnight  Raid— Results — Drinking  and  Liquor  Saloons— The  De- 
ecent  upon  them— Broken  up— Licentiousness  and  its  Patrons — The  Raid 
on  their  haunts  at  Dead  of  Night — The  Arrests 217 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

A    PERILOUS   ADVENTURE. 

Pope's   Defeat— Banks'  Advance — The    Importance  of  communicating   wit" 

him— The  Successful  Attempt — Rebel  Pursuers— The  Escape 225 

CHAPTER   XVII. 

SPECULATION    AND    FRAUD. 

Devices  of  Contractors— Detection  of  Forage  Contractor— Appeal  to  the  Pres 
ident— Further  Frauds  as  "Silent  Partner" 233 

CHAPTER  XVIII, 

A    FEMALE   ADVENTURER. 

Woman  in  the  Rebellion— Her  Aid  indispensable  in  the  worst  as  well  as  the 
best  Causes-A  Spicy  Letter— Miss  A.  J.— Vidocq's  Experience 238 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE   BOUNTY   JUMPERS. 

Fraudulent  Practices  of  Bounty  Brokers  and  Jumpers-Contrast  between 
English  and  American  Deserters— Plans  to  check  Desertion,  and  bring 
Criminals  to  Justice 040 


CONTEXTS.  11 

CHAPTER  XX. 

THE   BOUNTY   JUMPERS   AND   BROKERS. 

Quotas  filled  with  Falsified  Enlistment-Papers — Arrest  of  Brokers— Amusing 
and  Exciting  Scene— The  Hoboken  Raid — Slanderous  Charges — Large 
Number  of  Arrests — Incarceration  in  Fort  Lafayette — Other  Arrests- 
Trial  before  a  Military  Commission 258 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

BOUNTY   JUMPING   INCIDENTS. 

Personal  Experience  in  Bounty  Jumping — A  Perfect  Trump — Detectives  En 
listed — Passes  obtained  for  Bounty  Jumpers — Arrest  and  Surprise — Court- 
Martial  and  Conviction 262 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

BOUNTY   JUMPERS    IN    ORGANIZED    BANDS. 

Gipsy-like  Bounty  Jumpers — Wholesale  Bounty  Jumping  carried  on  adroitly 
by  a  Gang  of  Operators — Opposition  from  a  Canadian  Gang — Thirty-two 
Thousand  Dollars  in  as  many  Days — Frauds  in  Drafting — An  Old  Man 
put  in  as  a  Substitute — A  Boy  Decoyed — His  Adventures — A  Mother  of 
Thirteen  Children — Unavailing  Efforts  of  a  Mother  in  search  of  her  Idi- 
iotic  Son...  ..  268 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

THE  GREAT   CONSPIRACY. 

Aafaasinations — Eglon,  King  of  Moab — Caesar,  Emperor  of  Rome — James  I. 
of  England — Marat,  the  French  Revolutionary  Leader — Alexander  of 
Russia — Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States 276 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE   ASSASSINS   CAPTURED. 

Excitement  around  my  Headquarters  at  Washington — The  Chief  Conspirator 
— A  Graphic  Narrative  of  his  Arrest — His  Burial — Desire  for  Relics  from 
bin  Body — Hanging  of  the  Conspirators « 294 


12  rovT  K\TS. 

CHAPTER   XXV. 

THE   DETKCTIVE    POLICE — AND   THE   ARREST   OF   TUB   ASSASSINS. 

Personal  Relations  to  President  Lincoln — His  Kindness  ami  Confidence— My 
Order  to  Pursue  the  Conspirators — Results — Statements  of  Subordinates 
and  Others 351 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

LETTERS   ON   THE   ASSASSINATION. 

Jacob  Thompson— Volunteer  Suggestions  respecting  the  Assassin's  Hiding- 
Places  before  his  Death,  and  the  Disposal  of  his  Remains  afterward — 
Threats  of  more  Assassinations— A  Mysterious  Letter— J.  H.  Suratt 371 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

ATTEMPTED   SUICIDE   OF    WIRZ. 

My  Connection  with  the  Imprisonment  of  Wirz  and  Jeff  Davis — Vigilance 
in  Guarding  the  Prisoner — Mrs.  Wirz  visits  her  Husband — He  desires  a 
Call— The  Interview— Attempted  Suicide 394 


of 


STEEL  PLATE  OF  GEN.  BAKER,          -  -  FRONTISPIECE. 


CHROMATIC    PLATES. 

DETECTIVE  WORK  AROUND   THE   BALTIMORE  DEPOT. 
"  HERE  is  A  DESERTER,  CAPTAIN  !  " 
"  LET  ME  SEE  YOUR  TICKET  !  " 
"  HE  WAS  HERE  ASKED  TO  TAKE  A  DRINK." 

COLONEL   BAKER   SPYING   AROUND    RICHMOND. 

"  I  GUESS  YOU  ARE  MISTAKEN,  SIR,  MY  NAME  IS  MUNSON. " 

WITH  A  CRY  OF  DISTRESS,  HE  STAGGERED  AND  FELL. 

THE   COFFIN    CONTAINED   FIFTY-SIX   SHARP'S  RIFLES. 

"  Is  IT  POSSIBLE  THAT  MEN  CAN  BE  FOUND  TO  DESECRATE  THE 

RESTING  PLACE  OF  THE  DEAD  ?  " 

THE  MADDEST  MAN  IN  ALL  MARYLAND. 

' '  TAKE  THE  BABY  ;  WHAT  IN  H — i,  DO  WE  WANT  OF  THE  BABY  ?" 

THE  POOR   WOMAN  SEEKING   HER   BOY. 

"  WHAT  HAVE  YOU  DONE  WITH  MY  POOR  CON  ?  " 

FLIGHT  OF  BOOTH  AND  HAROLD. 

THE  TRAGEDY  AT  GARRETT'S, 
J.  WILKES  BOOTH. 
SERGEANT  BOSTON  CORBETT. 
CONGER  SEES  BOOTH  IN  THE  BURNING  BARN. 
BOOTH,  THE  ASSASSIN,  BROUGHT  TO  BAY. 


of  Illustrations. 


COLORED    PLATES. 

COL-   BAKER'S   INTERVIEW   WITH   JEFF.    DAVIS. 

RECEIVING   RELIGIOUS  TRACTS   FROM   BELLE   BOYD   IN   THE 
REBEL   STOCKADE   AT   MANASSAS  JUNCTION. 

CAPTURE     OF     A    REBEL     CONGRESSMAN     ON     SUSPENSION 
BRIDGE  AT  NIAGARA   FALLS. 

CAPTURE   OF  A    REBEL   BLOCKADE   RUNNER. 

DEATH    OF  A   REBEL  SPY. 

REBEL   CONTRIBUTION   TO   THE   LOYAL   CAUSE. 

CAPTURE  OF  A   CORRESPONDENT  OF  THE   LONDON  TIMES. 

COL.  BAKER  CARRYING  DISPATCHES  TO  GENERAL  BANKS- 

CAPTURE  OF  BOUNTY  JUMPERS  AT   HOBOKEN. 

BOOTH  AND  HAROLD  CROSSING  THE  POTOMAC. 

PLANNING  THE  CAPTURE  OF  BOOTH. 

DEATH  OF  J.  WILKES  BOOTH,  THE  CHIEF  CONSPIRATOR. 

SECRET  BURIAL  OF  BOOTH. 

EXECUTION  OF  THE  ASSASSINS. 

INQUEST  HELD  UPON  THE  BODY  OF  BOOTH. 

GEN.  BAKER  FOILS  WIRZ'S  ATTEMPT  AT  SUICIDE. 

14 


INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER,:-, 


GENERAL  BAKER  AXD  THE  BUREAU  OF  SECRET  SERVICE. 

The  Ancestrv  and  Birth-place  of  General  Baker — His  Early  Life — Residence  in  Cali 
fornia — Is  a  MemLer  of  the  Vigilance  Committee — Returns  to  New  Tork  in 
1861 — Visits  Washington — Interview  with  General  Scott — Enters  the  Secret 
Service — The  Great  Kaets  established  and  illustrated  by  these  Annals. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  LA  FAYETTE  C.  BAKER  belongs  to  a  family 
ot  New  England  origin.  In  an  early  history  of  Vermont,  entitled 
the  "  Green  Mountain  Boys,"  the  name  for  two  generations  is  con 
spicuous-  among  those  of  the  heroic  men  of  the  French  and  Indian 
wars.  About  the  year  1770,  the  military  organization  bearing  that 
name  was  formed,  to  resist  the  arbitrary  claims  of  the  colonial  gov 
eminent  of  New  York  over  the  settlers  and  soil  of  the  "New  Hamp 
shire  Grants."  Ethan  Allen,  Seth  Warner,  and  Remember  Baker 
were  acknowledged  leaders  of  the  heroic,  self-sacrificing  band  of 
patriots.  We  find  it  recorded,  that  "  previous  to  1770,  many  acts  of 
violence  had  been  committed  by  both  of  the  belligerent  parties.  It 
was  at  this  date  that  the  governor  of  New  York  attempted  to  enforce 
his  authority  over  the  territory  in  dispute  by  a  resort  to  military 
force.  The  Green  Mountain  Boys  having  learned  that  a  military 
force  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men  were  marching  to  subjugate 
them,  immediately  organized  themselves,  and  appointed  Fthan  Allen, 
colonel,  and  Seth  Warner,  Remember  Baker,  and  others,  captains  oi 
the  several  companies  under  him.  The  Ne\v  York  force  ha\ing  ad 
vanced  at  night  upon  the  dwelling  of  a  .settler,  were  suddenly  sui 
prised  by  the  mountaineers  in  ambush,  and  the  whole  posse  nijjori 
ously  fled,  without  a  eun  being  fired  on  either  side.  The  G>^«r 


1%,  INTRODUCTORY    CHAPTER 

Mountain  Boys  were  occasionally  callod  out  for  military  exercise  and 
discipline.  In  1  771,  the  governor  of  New  York  issued  a  proclamation 
offering  a  regard  for  the  arrest  of  Colonel  Allen,  and  Captains  War 
ner  sjid  Baker.  Several  attempts  were  made  to  abduct  them,  but 
cone  were  successful." 

".  /Subsequently,  in  the  Indian  conflicts,  Mr.  Baker's  toes  were  <*.ut 
'otf,  arid'  6the.r  hnrbarities  inflicted  upon  members  of  his  family. 
tJeiiiraL  Baker's  father,  who  inherited  the  paternal  name,  removed  to 
Stafford,  New  York,  in  1815.  La  Fayette  was  born  there,  October 
13,  1826.  When  three  years  of  age,  his  father  removed  to  Elba,  an 
adjoining  town,  where  he  lived  till  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  the 
family  started  for  the  wilderness  of  the  Great  West.  Mr.  Remember 
Baker  chose  his  home  within  the  limits  of  Michigan,  where  Lansing, 
the  capital,  now  stands,  then  a  primeval  forest,  haunted  by  the  abo 
rigines.  Soon  the  log-house  and  the  clearing  around  it  rewarded  the 
toil  of  the  father  and  the  son. 

In  the  year  1848  he  returned  to  New  York,  where  he  remained 
nearly  two  years,  when  he  went  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  was 
engaged  in  mechanical  and  mercantile  pursuits.  Mr.  Baker  was 
married  December  24,  1852,  to  Miss  Jennie  C.  Curry,  daughter  of 
John  Curry,  Esq.,  of  Southwark.  The  next  year  he  went  to  Califor 
nia.  An  incident  occurred  on  the  Isthmus,  illustrative  of  his  bold, 
fearless,  and  adventurous  character.  A  native  attempted  to  take 
advantage  of  an  Irish  emigrant,  and  charge  him  for  the  passage  of 
two  children  the  second  time.  Mr.  Baker  remonstrated.  The  party 
of  half  a  dozen  were  in  a  small  boat,  near  Gorgona.  The  enraged 
boatman  seized  one  of  the  children,  and  threatened  to  throw  him  in 
the  water  unless  the  unjust  demand  were  complied  with  by  the 
father.  Mr.  Baker  told  him  to  stop,  but  he  refused  ;  when  a  well- 
directed  blow  from  an  oar  staggered  the  man.  Recovering  himself 
ID  a  few  moments,  he  drew  his  knife,  and  rushed  toward  Baker, 
who,  raising  his  revolver,  shot  him  dead,  the  lifeless  body  tumbling 
over  the  boat's  side  into  the  water.  He  suddenly  became  conscious 
of  his  danger,  aware  that  the  native  population  would,  if  possible, 
kill  him.  Leaping  from  the  small  craft,  he  waded  to  the  opposite 
shore,  the  frantic  pursuers  at  his  back.  Turning,  he  shot  the  leader, 
and  crept  into  the  tangle  1,  matted  thicket.  Here  he  eluded  search, 


GENERAL  BAKER   AND   THE   SECRET   SERVICE.  19 

and  at  length  reached  the  American  consul's  house,  where  he  was 
concealed  in  a  subterranean  passage  for  two  weeks,  and  then  smug 
gled  on  board  of  a  vessel  bound  for  California,  and  safely  landed. 
The  next  meeting  with  one  of  his  traveling  companions,  where  the 
tragic  scene  narrated  occurred,  was  in  Richmond.  He  was  accosted 
by  him  there,  but,  as  it  will  be  seen,  having  become  "  Mr.  Munson," 
did  not  choose  to  know  his  friend  of  California  memory. 

Mr.  Baker  engaged  in  mechanical  pursuits  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
when  the  lawiess  period  of  1856  called  into  existence  the  Vigilance 
Committee.  Mr.  Baker  was  immediately  enrolled  in  the  army  of 
2,200  men,  every  one  of  whom  was  known  by  a  number,  his  own 
being  208.  In  the  summary  work  of  ridding  the  country  of  reckless 
gamblers  and  "ballot-box  stuffers,"  for  exposing  whose  crimes  James 
Casey  had  murdered  James  King  of  William,  editor  of  the  San  Fran 
cisco  Bulletin,  Mr.  Baker  was  an  active  and  efficient  member,  giving 
unmistakable  evidences  of  that  peculiar  adaptation  to  the  detective 
service,  wThich  has  made  him  pre-eminent  in  it,  on  this  continent, 
since  the  long  struggle  for  victory  over  a  foe  that  gloried  in  treason 
under  a  smiling  face,  and  robbery  in  the  name  of  inalienable  rights 
called  for  and  received  the  best  men  and  treasure  of  the  country. 
With  the  disbandment  of  the  extraordinary  and  formidable  organiza 
tion,  Mr.  Baker  returned  to  his  peaceful  occupation,  in  which  he  con 
tinued  till  1861,  when  he  came  to  New  York  City,  intending  to 
remain  only  a  brief  period.  The  appreciation  of  his  services  while  a 
member  of  the  Vigilance  Committee  and  engaged  in  a  mercantile 
agency,  was  very  emphatically  and  tastefully  expressed  on  New 
Year's  day,  the  date  of  his  departure,  by  the  merchants  of  San  Fra*.- 
cisco.  They  met  at  the  Bank  Exchange,  and  sent  for  Mr.  Baker 
When  he  entered  the  room,  to  his  entire  surprise,  a  gentleman  pre 
sented  him  with  a  cane  of  mansinita  wood,  found  only  in  California. 
The  head  is  polished  gold  quartz  from  the  Ish  Mine,  Oregon,  and 
around  it  are  nine  oval  stones  of  similar  material  from  as  many  dif 
ferent  mines.  The  whole  is  richly  mounted  with  solid  gold,  un.'l 
cost  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

At  the  very  moment  he  was  ready  to  return  to  the  Pacific  coast, 
the.  tocsin  of  civil  war  startled  the  land.  In  common  with  the  J^yal 
millions  of  the  North,  his  patriotic  indignation  at  the  treasonablf 


20  INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER. 

revolt,  and  the  desire  to  aid  m  its  suppression,  made  all  othei  pur 
poses  and  plans  of  small  importance.  He  immediately  decided  to 
abandon  his  business  schemes  and  serve  the  imperiled  country.  How 
well  he  succeeded,  and  his  public  career  from  this  point  in  his  history, 
will  appear  in  his  story  of  the  National  Secret  Service. 

In  General  Baker's  personal  appearance  there  is  nothing,  to  a 
casual  observer,  remarkable.  And  yet,  physically,  he  is  an  extraor 
dinary  man.  Before  the  exhausting  labors  of  his  official  position" 
during  the  war  reduced  his  weight,  it  averaged  one  hundred  and 
eighty  pounds.  His  frame  is  of  the  firmest  texture,  and  its  powers 
of  endurance  very  great.  For  days  together  he  has  prosecuted  his 
duties  without  food  or  ^leep,  and  exposed  to  winter  storms.  He 
is  of  medium  height,  lithe,  and  sinewy,  and  his  movements  are  quick, 
and  yet  having  the  air  of  deliberateness  natural  to  a  profession  in  * 
which  circumspection  and  habitual  self-control  are  among  the  tirst 
conditions  of  success.  Around  his  forehead  of  intelligent  outline  lies 
a  profusion  of  brown  hair,  and  his  face  is  partially  covered  with  - 
heavy  brown  beard.  His  gray  eye,  in  repose,  wears  a  cold  expres 
sion  ;  in  his  naturally  cheerful  mood,  and  in  the  unguarded  enjoy 
ment  of  social  life,  it  is  changeful  and  playful ;  and,  engaged  in  his 
special  duty  of  detecting  crime,  it  becomes  sharply  piercing,  often 
making  the  victim  of  his  vigilance  to  quail  before  its  steady  gaze. 
Indeed,  he  was  evidently  the  man  for  the  place  he  filled  during  the 
national  struggle.  The  personal  peril  to  which  he  exposed  himself, 
and  the  untiring  service  performed,  at  the  head  of  a  division,  or  even 
a  regiment,  would  have  sounded  his  name  over  the  land  as  a  daring, 
untiring  and  heroic  leader.  He  i*  probably  the  best  "  shot  r  in  the 
country,  and  also  a  fine  horseman.  Some  additional  and  interesting 
facts  in  his  history  will  be  noticed  in  the  eloquent  defense  of  General 
Baker  by  Mr.  Riddle,  in  the  "  Cobb  case." 

For  nearly  twenty  years  he  has  not  tasted  intoxicating  drinks, 
but  has  been  enrolled  among  the  Sons  of  Temperance;  and  what 
seems  still  more  remarkable,  when  we  think  of  the  associations 
inseparable  from  his  adventurous  career,  he  has  never  been  addicted 
to  the  shameless  profanity  so  common  in  the  army  and  among  men 
Df  adventurous  character.  His  fidelity  and  kindness  of  heart  L  hi* 


GENERAL  BAKER  AND  THE  SECRET  SERVICE.  21 

domestic  relations,  and  toward  kindred  less  fortunate  than  himself 
are  well  known. 

Such  are  the  general  characteristics  of  the  first  national  chief  of  a 
Detective  Bureau  in  the  war  record  of  this  country. 

Blackstone's  definition  of  the  police  is :  "  The  due  regulation  and 
domestic  order  of  the  kingdom,  whereby  the  individuals  of  a  State 
like  members  of  a  family,  are  compelled  to  conform  their  general 
behavior  to  the  rules  of  propriety  and  good  neighborhood,  and  good 
manners,  and  to  be  decent,  inoffensive  individuals  in  their  several 
stations." 

The  definition  is  comprehensive,  and  certainly  gives  to  this  public 
service  both  great  utility  and  honorable,  dignified  character.  Another 
able  writer  divides  the  services  of  policemen  into  several  distinct 
duties;  among  which  is  " giving  recent  intelligence,"  the  very  work 
of  the  detective  police,  when  a  specialty  in  time  of  public  perils,  and 
one  which  awakens  the  prejudice  and  hostility  of  all  classes. 

The  history  of  the  police  of  the  world,  would  be  a  most  exciting 
and  instructive  library  of  itself.  We  can  only  glance  at  this  service 
in  the  two  leading  nations  of  Europe  ;  one  Protestant  and  the  other 
Catholic.  "The  office  of  constable,"  says  a  "magistrate,"  in  his 
annals  of  the  London  police,  "is  as  old  as  the  monarchy  of  England  ' 
He  writes  again,  with  reference  to  the  unpopular  character  of  the  in 
dispensable  office:  "The  best  laws  are  worthless,  if  the  public  impres 
sion  be  cherished  that  it  is  a  matter  of  infamy  to  carry  them  into 
execution."  Doubtless,  the  principal  reason  for  the  general  disfavor 
toward  the  police  department,  arises  from  the  espionage  inseparable 
from  it.  People  do  not  like  to  be  watched,  and  are  still  less  willing  to 
have  their  offenses  against  law  and  order  reported  to  the  tri 
bunals  of  justice.  Nevertheless,  the  records  of  the  police,  with  all 
hat  is  unworthy  of  it,  are  irresistible  evidence  of  its  importance  in 
securing  public  and  personal  security  from  the  depravity  which  scorna 
al1  restraints  but  the  iron  grasp  of  law.  In  Britain,  the  police  de 
partment  has  never  become  a  national  institution ;  but,  until  compar 
atively  a  recent  date,  has  been  "  a  hand  to  mouth  affair."  About  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  Henry  Fielding  devoted  his  ener 
gies  and  influence  to  the  organization  of  the  London  police  into  an 
efficient  and  able  force  under  the  acting  magistrate  of  the  city.  And, 


22  INTRODUCTORf  CHAPTER. 

like  the  modern  defenders  of  the  "  constitution,"  there  were  not  a 
few  who  wrote  and  talked  about  the  dangerous  infringement  of  the 
rights  of  citizenship,  and  predicted  the  rapid  decay  of  liberty,  until 
the  "  British  lion  would  slumber  ingloriouslj  in  the  net  of  captivity." 
But  the  reform  went  forward,  and  the  charter  of  English  freedom 
remained  unshaken  by  the  dreaded  power  of  an  omnipresent  police. 
The  crimes  it  exposed  and  the  criminals  convicted,  for  a  single  year, 
were  tens  of  thousands. 

We  turn  to  France  for  the  most  complete  and  successful  system 
of  police  service  the  world  has  yet  seen.  Until  the  latter  part  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  the  kingdom  had  no  effective  police.  Even  in  the 
streets  of  Paris,  "  wolves  roamed  unmolested,"  and  citizens  forsook 
their  habitations.  Charles  VII  took  charge  of  the  criminal  business 
of  the  realm,  to  the  sudden  alarm  of  the  lawless  people,  who  lived  on 
the  property  and  peace  of  the  communities.  Francis  I.,  in  1520, 
appointed  a  provost-marshal,  with  thirty  constables.  The  next  grand 
advance  in  this  department  of  justice,  was  the  creation,  by  Louis 
XIV.,  of  a  lieutenant-general,  which  office  continued  from  March, 
1667,  to  the  memorable  July  14,  1787.  The  most  distinguished 
officer  during  this  period  was  De  La  Renye. 

The  storm  of  the  French  revolution,  which  swept  away  the  entire 
order  of  things,  reduced  the  police  organization  to  sixty  petty  com 
mittees.  After  the  restoration,  the  prefect  was  appointed.  Through 
all  these  changes,  the  national  police  of  France  stood  alone  in  the 
recognition  of  its  worth,  and  the  mighty  power  it  wielded  in  secu 
ring  the  public  good. 

The  very  vices  of  the  great  metropolis  are  so  far  regulated  and 
controlled  by  it,  that  their  ruinous  results  in  Paris  are  probably  not 
one-half  they  are  in  proportion  to  the  population  in  Protestant  Lon 
don  or  New  York.  We  shall  quote  a  few  passages  from  Vidocq's 
memoirs,  a  man  of  doubtful  character,  but  the  great  modern  Parisian 
detective,  to  illustrate  the  practical  workings  of  the  system  there. 

M.  Henry,  to  whom  Vidocq  refers,  was  "the  prefet"  of  police. 
He  thus  describes  his  entrance  upon  his  official  duties  : — 

"As  the  secret  agent  of  government,  I  had  duties  marked  out,  and 
the  kind  and  respectable  M.  Henry  took  upon  himself  to  instruct  me 
in  their  fulfillment;  for  in  his  hands  were  intrusted  nearly  the  entire 


GENERAL  BAKER  AND  THE  SECRET  SERVICE.  23 

safety  of  the  capital  :  to  prevent  crimes,  discover  malefactors,  and  to 
give  them  up  to  justice,  were  the  principal  functions  confided  to  me. 
By  thieves,  M.  Henry  was  styled  the  Evil  Spirit;  and  well  did  he 
merit  the  surname,  for,  with  him,  cunning  and  suavity  of  manners 
were  so  conjoined  as  seldom  to  fail  in  their  purpose.  Among  the 
coadjutors  of  M.  Henry  was  M.  Bertaux,  a  cross-examiner  of  grtat 
merit.  The  proofs  of  hi^  talent  may  be  found  in  the  archives  of  the 
court.  Next  to  him,  I  have  great  pleasure  in  naming  M.  Parisot, 
governor  of  the  prisons.  In  a  word,M.  Henry,  Bertaux,  and  Parisot 
formed  a  veritable  triumvirate,  which  was  incessantly  conspiring 
against  the  perpetrators  of  all  manner  of  crimes  ;  to  extirpate  rogues 
from  Paris,  and  to  procure  for  the  inhabitants  of  that  immense  city  a 
perfect  security. 

"  So  soon  as  I  was  installed  in  my  new  office  of  secret  agent,  I  com 
menced  my  rounds,  in  order  to  take  my  measures  well  for  setting 
effectually  to  work.  These  journeys,  which  occupied  me  nearly 
twenty  days,  furnished  me  with  many  useful  and  important  obser 
vations,  but  as  yet  I  was  only  preparing  to  act,  and  studying  my 
ground. 

"  One  morning  I  was  hastily  summoned  to  attend  the  chief  ot  the 
division.  The  matter  in  hand  was  to  discover  a  man  named  Watrin, 
accused  of  having  fabricated  and  put  in  circulation  false  money  and 
bank  notes.  The  inspectors  of  the  police  had  already  arrested  Wat 
rin,  but,  according  to  custom,  had  allowed  him  to  escape.  M.  Henry 
gave  me  every  direction  which  he  deemed  likely  to  assist  me  in  the 
search  after  him  ;  but,  unfortunately,  he  had  only  gleaned  a  few- 
simple  particulars  of  his  usual  habits  and  customary  haunts  :  every 
place  he  was  known  to  frequent  was  freely  pointed  out  to  me ;  but 
it  was  not  very  likely  he  would  be  found  in  those  resorts  which  pru 
dence  would  call  upon  him  carefully  to  avoid ;  there  remained,  there 
fore,  only  a  chance  of  reaching  him  by  some  by-path.  When  I  learn 
that  he  had  left  his  effects  in  a  furnished  house,  where  he  once  lodged, 
on  the  boulevard  of  Mont  Parnasse,  I  took  it  for  granted  that,  sooner 
or  later,  he  would  go  there  in  search  of  his  property,  or  at  least  that 
he  would  send  some  person  to  fetch  it  from  thence  ;  consequently,  I 
directed  all  my  vigilance  to  this  spot,  and  after  having  reconnoitred 
the  house.  I  lay  in  ambush  in  its  vicinity  night  and  day,  in  order  to 


24  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

keep  a  watcLful  eye  upon  all  comers  and  goers.     This  went  on  for 
nearly  a  week,  when,  weary  of  not  observing  any  thing,  I  determined 
upon  engaging  the  master  of  the  house  in  my  interest,  and  to  hire  an 
apartment  of  him,  where  I  accordingly  established  myself  with  An 
nette,  certain  that  my  presence  could  give  rise  to  no  suspicion.     I 
had  occupied  this  post  for  about  fifteen  days,  when  one  evening,  at 
eleven  o'clock,  I  was  informed  that  Watrin  had  just  come,  accom 
panied  by  another  person.     Owing  to  a  slight  indisposition,  I  had 
retired  to  bed  earlier  than  usual;  however,  at  this  news  I  rose  hast 
ily,  and  descended  the  staircase  by  four  stairs  at  a  time ;  but  what 
ever  diligence  I  might  use,  I  was  only  just  in  time  to  catch  Watrin'a 
companion  ;  him  I  had  no  right  to  detain,  but  I  made  myself  sure 
that  I  might,  by  intimidation,  obtain  further  particulars  from  him.     I 
therefore  seized  him,  threatened  him,  and  soon  drew  from  him  a  con 
fession  that  he  was  a  shoemaker,  and  that  Watrin  lived  with  him, 
No.  4,  Rue  des  Mauvais  GarQons.     This  was  all  I  wanted  to  know : 
I  had  only  had  time  to   slip  an  old  greatcoat  over  my  shirt,  and 
without  stopping  to  put  on  more  garments,  I  hurried  on  to  the  place 
thus  pointed  out  to  me.     I  reached  the  house  at  the  very  instant  that 
some  person  was  quitting  it :  persuaded  that  it  was  Watrin,  I  at 
tempted  to  seize  him ;  he  escaped  from  me,  and  I  darted  after  him 
op  a  staircase  ;  but,  at  the  moment  of  grasping  him,  a  violent  blow 
w/rich  struck  my  chest,  drove  me  down  twenty  stairs.     I  sprang  for- 
*  ard  again,  and  that  so  quickly,  that  to  escape  from  my  pursuit  he 
•R  as  compelled  to  return  into  the  house  through  a  sash  window.     I 
tLen  knocked  loudly  at  the  door,  summoning  him  to  open  it  without 
d^lay.     This  he  refused  to  do.     I  then  desired  Annette  (who  had  fol 
lowed  me)  to  go  in  search  of  the  guard,  and  while  she  was  preparing 
to  obey  me,  I  counterfeited  the  noise  of  a  man  descending  the  stairs, 
Watrin,  deceived  by  this  feint,  was  anxious  to  satisfy  himself  whethei 
I  had  actually  gone,  and  softly  put  his  head  out  of  window  to  observe 
if  all  was  safe.     This  was  exactly  what  I  wanted.     I  made  a  vigorous 
dart  forward,  and  seized  him  by  the  hair  of  his  head  :  he  grasped  me 
in  the  same  manner,  and  a  desperate  struggle  took  place  ;  jammed 
against  the  partition  wall  which  separated  us,  he  opposed  me  with  a 
determined  resistance.     Nevertheless,  I  felt  that  he   was   growing 
Weaker  •  I  collected  all  my  strength  for  a  last  effort ;  I  strained  every 


GENERAL  BAKER  AND  THE  SECRET  SERVICE.  25 

nerve,  and  drew  him  nearly  out  of  the  window  through  which  we 
were  struggling  :  one  more  trial  and  the  victory  was  mine ;  but  in 
the  earnestness  of  my  grasp  we  both  rolled  on  the  passage  floor,  on 
to  which  I  had  pulled  him ;  to  rise,  snatch  from  his  hands  the  shoe 
maker's  cutting-knife  with  which  he  had  armed  himself,  to  bind  him, 
and  lead  him  out  of  the  house,  was  the  work  of  an  instant.  Accom 
panied  only  by  Annette,  I  conducted  him  to  the  prefecture,  where  I 
received  the  congratulations,  first  of  M.  Henry,  and  afterward  those 
of  the  prefect  of  police,  who  bestowed  on  me  a  pecuniary  recompense. 
Watrin  was  a  man  of  unusual  address  ;  he  followed  a  coarse,  clumsy 
business,  and  yet  he  had  given  himself  up  to  making  counterfeit 
money,  which  required  extreme  delicacy  of  hand.  Condemned  to 
death,  he  obtained  a  reprieve  the  very  hour  that  was  destined  for  hia 
execution ;  the  scaffold  was  prepared,  he  was  taken  down  from  it, 
and  the  lovers  of  such  scenes  experienced  a  disappointment.  All 
Paris  remembers  it.  A  report  was  in  circulation  that  he  was  about 
to  make  some  very  important  discoveries ;  but  as  he  had  nothing  to 
reveal,  a  few  days  afterward  he  underwent  his  sentence. 

"  Watrin  was  my  first  capture,  and  an  important  one  too ;  this  suc 
cessful  beginning  awoke  the  jealousy  of  the  peace-officers,  as  well  as  of 
those  under  my  orders  ;  all  were  exasperated  against  me,  but  in  vain  ; 
they  could  not  forgive  me  for  being  more  successful  than  themselves. 
The  superiors,  on  the  contrary,  were  highly  pleased  with  my  conduct ; 
and  I  redoubled  my  zeal,  to  render  myself  still  more  worthy  their 
confidence. 

*'  About  this  period  a  vast  number  of  counterfeit  five-franc  pieces 
had  got  into  general  circulation ;  several  of  them  were  shown  me ; 
irhile  examining  them,  I  fancied  I  could  discover  the  workmanship 
of  Bouhin  (who  had  informed  against  me)  and  of  his  friend,  Dr.  Ter 
rier.  I  resolved  to  satisfy  my  mind  as  to  the  truth  of  this;  and  in 
consequence  of  this  determination,  I  set  about  watching  the  steps  of 
these  two  individuals  ;  but  as  I  durst  not  follow  too  closely,  lest  they 
might  recognize  me,  and  mistrust  my  observation,  it  was  difficult  for 
me  to  obtain  the  intelligence  I  wanted.  Nevertheless,  by  dint  of 
unwearied  perseverance,  I  arrived  at  the  certainty  of  my  not  having 
mistaken  the  matter,  and  the  two  coiners  were  arrested  in  the  ?ery 


26  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

act  of  fabricating  their  base  coin  ;  they  were  shortly  after  condemned 
and  executed  for  it." 

"  In  so  populous  a  capital  as  that  of  Paris,  there  are  usually  a  vast 
many  places  of  bad  resort,  at  which  assembled  persons  of  broken 
fortune  and  ruined  fame ;  in  order  to  judge  of  them  under  my  own 
eye,  I  frequented  every  house  and  street  of  ill-fame,  sometimes  under 
one  disguise  and  sometimes  under  another ;  assuming,  indeed,  all 
those  rapid  changes  of  dress  and  manner  which  indicated  a  person 
desirous  of  concealing  himself  from  the  observation  of  the  police,  till 
the  rogues  and  thieves  whom  I  daily  met  there  firmly  believed  me  to 
be  one  of  themselves  ;  persuaded  of  my  being  a  runaway,  they  would 
have  been  cut  to  pieces  before  I  should  have  been  taken  ;  for  not  only 
had  I  acquired  their  fullest  confidence,  but  their  strongest  regard  ; 
and  so  much  did  they  respect  my  situation,  as  a  fugitive  galley-slave, 
that  they  would  not  even  propose  to  me  to  join  in  any  of  their  daring 
schemes,  lest  it  might  compromise  my  safety.  All,  however,  did  not 
exercise  this  delicacy,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter.  Some  months  had 
passed  since  I  commenced  my  secret  investigations,  when  chance 
threw  in  my  way  St.  Germain,  whose  visits  had  so  often  filled  me 
with  consternation.  He  had  with  him  a  person  named  Boudin,  whom 
I  had  formerly  seen  as  a  restaurateur  in  Paris,  in  the  Rue  des  Prou- 
vaires,  and  of  whom  I  knew  no  more  than  that  trifling  acquaintance 
which  arose  from  my  occasionally  exchanging  my  money  for  his  din 
ners.  He,  however,  seemed  easily  to  recollect  me,  and,  addressing  me 
with  bold  familiarity,  which  rny  determined  coolness  seemed  unable 
to  subdue,  'Pray,'  said  he,  'have  I  been  guilty  of  any  offense  toward 
you,  that  you  seem  so  resolved  upon  cutting  me  ?' — '  By  no  means, 
sir,'  replied  I ;  'but  I  have  been  informed  that  you  have  been  in  the 
service  of  the  police.' — i  Oh,  oh,  is  .that  all,'  cried  lie  ;' never  mind 
that,  my  boy ;  suppose  I  have,  what  then  ?  I  had  my  reasons  ;  and 
when  I  tell  you  what  they  were,  I  am  quite  sure  you  will  not  bear  me 
any  ill-will  for  it.' — '  Come,  come,'  said  St.  Germain, '  I  must  have  you 
good  friends  ;  Boudin  is  an  excellent  fellow,  and  1  will  answer  for  lik 
honor,  as  I  would  do  for  my  own.  Many  a  thing-  happens  in  life  we 
should  never  have  dreamed  of,  and  if  Boudin  did  accept  the  situation 
you  mention,  it  was  but  to  save  his  brother:  besides,  you  must  fee] 
•atisfied,  that  were  his  principles  such  as  a  gentleman  ougU'  uol  to 


GENERAL  BAKER  AND  THE  SECRET  SERTIOE.  27 

possess,  why,  you  would  not  find  him  in  my  company.'  I  was  much 
amused  with  this  excellent  reasoning,  as  well  as  with  the  pledge  given 
for  Boudin's  good  faith ;  however,  I  no  longer  sought  to  avoid  the 
conversation  of  Boudin.  It  was  natural  enough  that  St.  Germain 
should  relate  to  me  all  that  had  happened  to  him  since  his  last  disap- 
V2arance,  which  had  given  me  such  pleasure. 

"After  complimenting  me  on  my  flight,  he  informed  me  that  after 
my  arrest  he  had  recovered  his  employment,  which  he,  however,  was 
not  fortunate  enough  to  keep  ;  he  lost  it  a  second  time,  and  had  since 
been  compelled  to  trust  to  his  wits  to  procure  a  subsistence.  I  re 
quested  he  would  tell  me  what  had  become  of  Blondy  and  Deluc? 
*  What,'  said  he;  '  the.  two  who  slit  the  wagoner's  throat?  Oh,  why, 
the  guillotine  settled  their  business  at  Beauvais.'  When  I  learnt  that 
these  two  villains  had  at  length  reaped  the  just  reward  of  their 
crimes,  I  experienced  but  one  regret,  and  that  was,  that  the  heads  of 
their  worthless  accomplices  had  not  fallen  on  the  same  scaffold. 

"After  we  had  sat  together  long  enough  to  empty  several  bottles 
of  wine,  we  separated.  At  parting,  St.  Germain  having  observed  that 
I  was  but  meanly  clad,  inquired  what  I  was  doing,  and  as  I  carelessly 
answered  that  at  present  I  had  no  occupation,  he  promised  to  do  his 
best  for  me,  and  to  push  my  interest  the  first  opportunity  that  offered. 
I  suggested  that,  as  I  very  rarely  ventured  out,  for  fear  of  being  ar 
rested,  we  might  not  possibly  meet  again  for  some  time.  '  You  can 
see  me  whenever  you  choose,'  said  he ;  '  I  shall  expect  that  you  will 
call  on  me  frequently.'  Upon  my  promise  to  do  so,  he  gave  me  his 
address,  without  once  thinking  of  asking  for  mine. 

a  St.  Germain  was  no  longer  an  object  of  such  excessive  terror  a8 
formerly  in  my  eyes ;  I  even  thought  it  my  interest  to  keep  him  in 
sight,  for  if  I  applied  myself  to  scrutinizing  the  actions  of  suspicious 
persons,  who  better  than  he  called  for  the  most  vigilant  attention  ? 
In  a  word,  I  resolved  upon  purging  society  of  such  a  monster.  Mean 
while,  I  waged  a  determined  war  with  all  the  crowd  of  rogues  who 
infested  the  capital.  About  this  time,  robberies  of  every  species  were 
multiplying  to  a  frightful  extent:  nothing  was  talked  of  but  stolen 
palisades,  out-houses  broken  open,  roofs  stripped  of  their  lead ;  more 
than  twenty  reflecting  lamps  were  successively  stolen  from  the  Rue 
Fontaine  au  Roi,  without  the  plunderers  being  detected.  For  a 


J8  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

whole  month  the  inspectors  had  been  lying  in  wait  in  order  to  sur 
prise  them,  and  the  first  night  of  their  discontinuing  their  vigilance 
the  same  depredations  took  place.  In  this  state,  which  appeared  like 
setting  the  police  at  defiance,  I  accepted  the  task  which  none  seemed 
able  to  accomplish,  and  in  a  very  short  time  I  was  enabled  to  bring 
the  whole  band  of  these  shameless  plunderers  to  public  justice,  which 
immediately  consigned  them  to  the  galleys. 

"  Each  day  increased  the  number  of  my  discoveries.  Of  the  many 
who  were  committed  to  prison,  there  were  none  who  did  not  owe 
their  arrest  to  me,  and  yet  not  one  of  them  for  a  moment  suspected 
my  share  in  the  business.  I  managed  so  well,  that  neither  within  nor 
«fithout  its  walls  had 'the  slightest  suspicion  transpired.  The  thieves 
of  my  acquaintance  looked  upon  me  as  their  best  friend  and  true  com 
rade  ;  the  others  esteemed  themselves  happy  to  have  an  opportunity 
of  initiating  me  in  their  secrets,  whether  from  the  pleasure  of  con 
versing  with  me,  or  in  the  hope  of  benefiting  by  my  counsels.  It 
was  principally  beyond  the  barriers  that  I  met  with  these  unfortunate 
beings.  One  day  that  I  was  crossing  the  outer  Boulevards,  I  was 
accosted  by  St.  Germain,  who  was  still  accompanied  by  Boudin. 
They  invited  me  to  dinner;  I  accepted  the  proposition,  and  over  a 
bottle  of  wine  they  did  me  the  honor  to  propose  that  I  should  make 
a  third  in  an  intended  murder. 

"The  matter  in  hand  was  to  dispatch  two  old  men  who  lived 
together  iu  the  house  which  Boudin  had  formerly  occupied  in  the  Rue 
des  1'roiivaires.  Shuddering  at  the  confidence  placed  in  me  by  these 
villains,  1  yet  blessed  the  invisible  hand  which  had  Jed  them  to  seek 
my  aid.  At  first  I  affected  some  scruples  at  entering  into  the  plot, 
but  at  last  feigned  to  yield  to  their  lively  and  pressing  solicitations, 
and  it  was  agreed  that  we  should  wait  the  favorable  moment  for  put 
ting  into  execution  this  most  execrable  project.  This  resolution  taken, 
I  bade  farewell  to  St.  Germain  and  his  companion,  and  (decided  upon 
preventing  the  meditated  crime)  hastened  to  carry  a  report  of  the 
affair  to  M.  Henry,  who  sent  me,  without  loss  of  time,  to  obtain  more 
ample  details  of  the  discovery  I  had  just  made  to  him.  His  intention 
was  to  satisfy  himself  whether  I  had  been  really  solicited  to  take  part 
in  it,  or  whether,  from  a  mistaken  devotion  to  the  cause  of  justice,  I 
had  endeavored  to  instigate  those  unhappy  men  to  an  act  wh'.ch  would 


GENERAL  BAKER  ATO  THE  SECRET  SERVICE.  29 

render  them  amenable  to  it.  I  protested  that  I  had  adopted  no  such 
expedient,  and  as  he  discovered  marks  of  truth  in  my  manner  and 
declaration,  he  expressed  himself  satisfied.  He  did  not,  however, 
omit  to  impress  on  me  the  following  discourse  upon  instigating  agents, 
which  penetrated  my  very  heart.  Ah,  why  was  it  not  also  heard  by 
those  wretches,  who,  since  the  revolution,  have  made  so  many  victims 
The  renewed  era  of  legitimacy  weald  not  then,  in  some  circumstances, 
have  recalled  the  bloody  days  of  another  epoch.  '  Remember  well,' 
said  M.  Henry  to  me,  in  conclusion,  c  remember  that  the  greatest 
scourge  to  society  is  he  who  urges  another  on  to  the  commission  of 
evil.  Where  there  are  no  instigators  to  bad  practices,  they  are  com 
mitted  only  by  the  really  hardened ;  because  they  alone  are  capable 
of  conceiving  and  executing  them.  Weak  beings  may  be  drawn 
away  and  excited  :  to  precipitate  them  into  the  abyss,  it  frequently 
requires  no  more  than  to  call  to  your  aid  their  passions  or  self-love  ; 
but  he  who  avails  himself  of  their  weakness  to  procure  their  destruc 
tion,  is  more  than  a  monster — he  is  the  guilty  one,  and  it  is  on  his 
head  that  the  sword  of  justice  should  fall.  As  to  those  engaged  in 
the  police,  they  had  better  remain  forever  idle,  than  create  matter  for 
employment.' 

"  Although  this  lesson  was  not  required  in  my  case,  yet  I  thanked 
M.  Henry  for  it,  who  enjoined  me  not  to  lose  sight  of  the  two  assas 
sins,  and  to  use  every  means  in  my  power  to  prevent  their  arriving 
at  the  completion  of  their  diabolical  plan.  4  The  police,'  said  he, 
4  is  instituted  as  much  to  correct  and  punish  malefactors,  as  to  pre- 
'rent  their  committing  crimes ;  but  on  every  occasion  I  would  wish  it 
co  be  understood,  that  we  hold  ourselves  under  greater  obligations  to 
that,  person  who  prevents  one  crime,  than  to  him  who  procures  the 
punishment  of  many.'  ********* 

"  At  the  words  '  secret  agent,'  a  feeling  almost  approaching  to 
euffocation  stole  over  me,  but  I  quickly  rallied  upon  perceiving  that 
however  true  the  report  might  be,  it  had  obtained  but  little  faith  with 
St.  Germain,  who  was  evidently  waiting  for  my  explanation  or  denial 
of  it,  without  once  suspecting  its  reality.  My  ever-ready  genius 
quickly  flew  to  my  aid,  and  without  hesitation  I  replied,  that  I  was 
not  much  surprised  at  the  charge,  and  for  the  simple  reason  that  I 
myself  had  been  the  first  to  set  the  rumor  afloat.  St.  Germain  stared 


30  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 


wonder.  4  My  good  fellow,'  said  I,  '  you  are  well  aware  that  I 
managed  to  escape  from  the  police  while  they  were  transferring  me 
from  La  Force  to  Bicetre.  Well  !  I  went  to  Paris  and  stayed  there 
till  I  could  go  elsewhere.  One  must  live,  you  know,  how  and  where 
one  can.  Unfortunately,  I  am  still  compelled  to  play  at  hide  and 
seek,  and  it  is  only  by  assuming  a  variety  of  disguises  that  I  dare 
venture  abroad,  to  look  about  and  just  see  what  my  old  friends  aie 
doing  ;  but,  in  spite  of  all  my  precautions,  I  live  in  constant  dread  of 
many  individuals,  whose  keen  eyes  quickly  penetrate  my  assumption 
of  other  names  and  habits  than  my  own  ;  and  who,  having  formerly 
been  upon  terms  of  familiarity  with  me,  pestered  me  with  questions 
I  had  no  other  means  of  shaking  off,  than  by  insinuating  that  I  was 
in  the  pay  of  the  police  ;  and  thus  I  obtained  the  double  advantage 
of  evading,  in  my  character  of  "spy,"  both  their  suspicions  and  ill- 
will,  should  they  feel  disposed  to  exercise  it  in  procuring  my  arrest.' 

"  4  Enough—  enough,'  interrupted  St.  Germain  ;  'I  believe  you;  and 
to  convince  you  of  the  unbroken  confidence  I  place  in  you,  I  will  let 
you  into  the  secret  of  our  plans  for  to-night.'" 

We  add  a  Single  adventure  which  is  illustrative  of  the  shrewdness 
and  success  of  the  ever-active,  fearless,  self-reliant,  and  successful 
Vidocq  :  — 

"  I  was  employed  to  detect  the  authors  of  a  nocturnal  robbery, 
committed  by  climbing  and  forcible  entry  into  the  apartments  of  the 
Prince  de  Conde,  in  the  Palais  Bourbon.  Glasses  of  a  vast  size  had 
disappeared,  and  their  abstraction  was  effected  with  so  much  precau 
tion,  that  the  sleep  of  two  cerberi,  who  supplied  the  place  of  a  watch 
man,  had  not  been  for  a  moment  disturbed.  The  frames  in  which 
these  glasses  had  been  were  riot  at  all  injured:  and  I  was  at  first 
tempted  to  believe  that  they  had  been  taken  out  by  looking-glass 
makers  or  cabinet-makers  ;  but  in  Paris  these  workmen  are  so  numer 
ous,  that  I  could  not  pitch  on  any  one  of  them  whom  I  know,  with 
any  certainty  of  suspicion.  Yet  I  was  resolved  to  detect  the  guilty, 
and  to  effect  this  I  commenced  my  inquiries. 

''  The  keeper  of  a  sculpture-gallery,  near  the  Quineaux  of  the  inva 
lids,  gave  me  first  the  information  by  which  I  was  guided.  About  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  he  had  seen  near  his  door  several  glasses  in  the 
care  of  a  young  man,  who  pretended  to  have  been  obliged  to  station 


GENERAL  BAKER  AND  THE  SECRET  SERVICE.  gl 

them  there  while  waiting  for  the  return  of  hu  porters,  who  had  broken 
their  hand-barrow.  Two  hours  afterward,  the  young  man,  haying 
found  two  messengers,  had  made  them  carry  off  the  glasses,  and  had 
directed  them  to  the  side  of  the  Fountain  of  the  Invalids.  According 
to  the  keeper,  the  person  he  saw  was  about  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  and-  about  five  feet  and  an  inch  (French  measure).  He  was 
clothed  in  an  iron-gray  greatcoat,  and  had  a  very  good  countenance. 
This  information  was  not  immediately  useful  to  me ;  but  it  led  me  to 
find  the  messenger,  who,  the  day  after  the  robbery,  had  carried  some 
glasses  of  large  size  to  the  Rue  Saint-Dominique,  arid  left  them  at  the 
little  Hotel  de  Caraman.  These  were,  in  all  probability,  the  glasses 
stolen,  and  if  they  were,  who  could  say  that  they  had  not  changed 
domicile  and  owner  ?  I  had  the  person  \vh(4  had  received  them  pointed 
out  to  me,  and  determined  on  introducing  myself  to  her ;  and  that 
my  presence  might  not  inspire  her  with  fear,  it  was  in  the  guise  of  a 
cook  that  I  introduced  myself  to  her  notice.  The  light  jacket  and 
cotton  nightcap  are  the  ensigns  of  the  profession ;  I  clothed  myself 
in  such  attire,  and,  fully  entering  into  the  spirit  of  my  character,  went 
to  the  little  Hotel  de  Caraman,  where  I  ascended  to  the  first  floor. 
The  door  was  closed ;  I  knocked,  and  it  was  opened  to  me  by  a  very 
good-looking  young  fellow,  who  asked  me  what  I  wanted.  I  gave 
him  an  address,  and  told  him  that  having  learnt  that  he  was  in  want 
of  a  cook,  I  had  taken  the  liberty  of  offering  rny  services  to  him. 

"  *  My  dear  fellow,  you  are  under  a  mistake,'  he  replied,  '  the  ad 
dress  you  have  given  me  is  not  mine,  but  as  there  are  two  Rues 
Saint-Dominique,  it  is  most  probably  to  the  other  that  you  should  go.' 

"All  Ganymedes  had  not  been  carried  oft'  to  Olympus,  and  the 
handsome  youth  who  spoke  to  me  had  manners,  gestures,  and  language, 
which,  united  to  his  appearance,  convinced  me  in  an  instant  witL 
whom  my  business  lay.  I  instantly  assumed  the  tone  of  an  initiate  in 
tho  mysteries  of  the  ultra  philanthropists,  and  after  some  signs  which 
he  perfectly  understood,  I  told  him  how  very  sorry  I  was  that  he  did 
not  want  me 

"  4  Ah,  sir,'  I  said  to  him,  'I  would  rather  remain  witli  you,  even 
if  you  only  gave  me  half  what  I  should  get  elsewhere  ;  if  you  only, 
knew  how  miserable  I  am ;  I  have  been  six  months  out  of  place,  and 


32  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

I  do  not  get  a  dinner  every  day.     Would  you  believe  that  thirly-sii 
hours  have  elapsed  and  I  have  not  taken  any  thing  ?' 

"  *  You  pain  me,  my  good  fellow ;  what,  are  you  still  fasting  ? 
Come,  come,  you  shall  dine  here.' 

"  I  had  really  an  appetite  capable  of  giving  the  lie  I  had  just  ut 
tered  all  the  semblance  of  truth  ;  a  two-pound  loaf,  half  a  fowl,  cheese, 
and  a  bottle  of  wine  which  he  had  procured,  did  not  make  long 
sojourn  on  the  table.  Once  filled,  I  began  again  to  talk  of  my  unfor 
tunate  condition. 

"  'See,  sir,'  said  I,  'if  it  be  possible  to  be  in  a  more  pitiable  situa 
tion.  I  know  four  trades,  and  out  of  the  whole  four  can  not  get  em 
ploy  in  one — tailor,  hatter,  cook  ;  I  know  a  little  of  all,  and  yet  can  not 
get  on.  My  first  start  was  as  a  locking-glass  setter.' 

" '  A  looking-glass  setter ! '  said  he,  abruptly ;  and  without  giv 
ing  him  time  to  reflect  on  the  imprudence  of  such  an  exclamation,  I 
went  on. 

*' '  Yes,  a  looking-glass  setter,  and  I  know  that  trade  the  best  of  the 
four ;  but  business  is  so  dead  that  there  is  really  nothing  now  stirring 
in  it.' 

'"  Here,  my  friend,'  said  the  young  man,  presenting  to  me  a  small 
glass;  '  this  is  brandy,  it  will  do  you  good  ;  you  know  not  how  much 
you  interest  me.  I  can  give  you  work  for  several  days.' 

" '  Ah !  sir,  you  are  too  good,  you  restore  me  to  life  ;  how,  if  you 
please,  do  you  intend  to  employ  me  ?' 

"  'As  a  looking-glass  framer.' 

"  'If  you  have  glasses  to  fit,  pier,  Psyche,  light-of-day,  joy-of-Nar 
cissus,  or  any  others,  you  have  only  to  intrust  me  with  them,  and  I 
will  give  you  a  cast  of  my  craft.' 

'' '  I  have  glasses  of  great  beauty  ;  they  were  at  my  country-house, 
whence  I  sent  for  them,  lest  the  gentlemen  Cossacks  should  take  a 
fancy  to  break  them.' 

"  '  You  were  quite  right ;  but  may  I  see  them  ?' 

" '  Yes,  my  friend.' 

4'  He  took  me  into  a  room,  and  at  the  first  glance  I  recognized  the 
glasses  of  the  Palais  Bourbon.  I  was  ^ecstatic  in  their  praise,  their 
size,  &c. ;  and  after  having  examined  them  with  the  minute  attention 


GENERAL  BAKER  AND  THE  SECRET  SERVICE.  33 

of  a  man  wL?  understands  what  he  is  about,  1  praised  the  skill  of  the 
workman  who  unframed  them,  without  injury  to  the  silvering. 

" ' The  workman,  my  friend,'  said  he  ;  'the  workman  was  myself; 
I  would  not  allow  any  other  person  to  touch  them,  not  even  to  load 
them  in  the  carriage.' 

"  '  Ah  !  sir,  I  am  very  sorry  to  give  you  the  lie,  but  what  you  teli 
me  is  impossible  ;  a  man  muse  have  been  a  workman  to  undertake 
Buch  work,  and  even  the  best  of  the  craft  might  not  have  succeeded.5 

"  In  spite  of  my  observation,  he  persisted  in  asserting  that  he  had 
no  help,  and  as  it  would  not  have  answered  my  purpose  to  have  con 
tradicted  him,  I  dropped  the  subject. 

"  A  lie  was  an  accusation  at  which  he  might  have  been  angry,  but 
tie  did  not  speak  with  less  amenity,  and  after  having  given  me  his 
instructions,  desired  me  to  come  early  next  day,  and  begin  my  work 
as  early  as  possible. 

"  *  Do  not  forget  to  bring  your  diamond,  as  I  wish  you  to  remove 
those  arches,  which  are  no  longer  fashionable.' 

"  He  had  no  more  to  say  to  me,  and  I  had  no  more  to  learn.  I  left 
him,  and  went  to  join  my  two  agents,  to  whom  I  gave  the  description 
of  the  person,  and  desired  them  to  follow  him  if  he  should  go  out.  A 
warrant  was  necessary  to  effect  his  apprehension,  which  I  procured  ; 
and  soon  afterward,  having  changed  my  dress,  I  returned,  with  the 
commissary  of  police  and  my  agents,  to  the  house  of  the  amateur  of 
glasses,  who  did  not  expect  me  so  soon.  He  did  not  know  me  at  first, 
and  it  was  only  at  the  termination  of  our  search,  that,  examining  me 
more  closely,  he  said  to  me : — 

"  '  I  think  I  recognize  you  ;  are  you  not  a  cook  ?J 

"  '  Yes,  sir,'  I  replied  ;  '  I  am  cook,  tailor,  hatter,  looking -glasa 
setter,  and,  moreover,  a  spy,  at  your  service.' 

"  My  coolness  so  much  disconcerted  him,  that  he  could  not  utter 
another  word. 

"This  gentleman  was  named  Alexander  Paruitte.  Besides  the  two 
glasses,  and  two  chimeras  in  gilt  bronze,  which  he  had  stolen  from 
the  Palais  Bourbon,  many  other  articles  were  found  in  his  apartments^ 
the  produce  of  various  robberies.  The  inspectors  who  had  accompa 
nied  me  in  this  expedition  undertook  to  conduct  Paruitte  to  the  depot 
but,  on  the  way,  were  careless  enough  to  allow  him  to  escaj>a,  ncrf 
l 


34  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

was  it  until  ten  days  afterward  that  I  contrived  to  get  sight  of  him, 
at  t.ie  gate  of  the  embassador  of  his  highness,  the  Sultan  Mahmoud 
and  I  apprehended  him  at  the  moment  he  got  into  the  carriage  of  a 
Turk,  who  apparently  had  sold  his  odalisques. 

"  I  am  still  at  a  loss  to  explain  how,  in  spite  of  obstacles  which 
the  most  expert  robbers  judged  insurmountable,  Paruitte  effected  the 
robbery  which  twice  compelled  me  to  see  him.  He  was  steadfast 
in  his  assertion  of  having  no  companions;  for  on  his  trial,  when 
sentenced  to  irons  and  imprisonment,  no  indication,  not  even  the 
slightest,  could  be  elicited,  encouraging  the  idea  that  he  had  any 
participators." 

The  annals  of  this  Bureau,  we  think,  will  establish  the  three  fol 
lowing  propositions : 

I.  The  Detective  Bureau,  although  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  our 
republican  institutions  in  time  of  peace,  is  indispensable  in  time  of  war. 

II.  Some  of  the  most  important  army  movements  and  battles  have 
been  made  and  fought  entirely  upon   information  obtained  through 
this  Bureau. 

III.  There  is  nothing  in  the  Secret  Service  that  demands  a  viola 
tion  of  honor,  or  a  sacrifice  of  principle,  beyond  the  ordinary  rules  of 
warfare. 

Reference  will  be  made  to  these  statements  in  connection  with 
the  striking  and  illustrative  facts  which  will  be  recorded  in  the 
progress  of  the  narrative. 

There  is  an  important  distinction  to  be  made  between  the  service 
of  a  scout  and  that  of  a  detective.  The  principal  qualifications  in  the 
scout  are  courage  and  daring.  He  is  to  ride  boldly  into  the  enemy's 
lines,  generally  during  action,  or  while  the  army  is  in  motion,  to 
ascertain  the  locality  and  movements  of  the  hostile  forces. 

The  detective  must  possess  ability,  shrewdness,  great  self-reliance 
and  self-control,  discretion,  courage,  and  integrity.  He  will  have 
complicated  and  important  measures  to  carry  forward,  requiring  no 
ordinary  amount  of  mental  power,  and  plans  and  plots  to  unravel 
which  demand  keen  discernment  and  a  profound  knowledge  of  men  ; 
critical  moments,  when  vacillation,  or  even  hesitation,  would  be  fatal; 
secrets,  which  without  a  complete  mastery  over  feeling  and  all  its 
forms  of  expression,  will  be  revealed;  delicate  questions  of  procedure 


GENERAL  BAKER  AND  THE  SECRET  SERVICE.  3f, 

and  duty,  to  decide  which  the  nicest  prudence  will  be  necessary ; 
dangers  to  meet,  requiring  a  fearless  spirit  nothing  can  alarm  or  in 
timidate  ;  and,  to  crown  all,  as  the  servant  of  the  Government  in 
matters  of  the  gravest  responsibility,  he  must  have  reliability  of  ^ 
character  to  win  and  hold  the  unclouded  confidence  of  its  officers 
in  his  revelations,  on  which  the  most  momentous  operations  may 
depend. 

A  moment's  reflection  will  convince  any  mind  of  the  correctness 
of  this  estimate  of  qualifications,  among  which  the  last-mentioned 
has  not  been  generally  understood  and  appreciated.  But  the  fidelity 
to  his  trust  of  the  Chief  of  the  Detective  Police  must  be  such  as  to 
command  no  ordinary  faith  in  information  which  may  decide  the 
victory  or  defeat  of  an  army.  Not  only  so,  but  he  must  be  inap 
proachable  by  bribery.  Striking  illustrations  of  this  will  be  given  in 
the  record  of  official  services.  Another  interesting  fact  will  appear; 
General  Baker's  impartial  justice  to  the  colored  race,  in  contrast 
with  the  animus  of  slavery,  whose  most  cruel  wrongs  he  was  com 
pelled  to  meet,  and  endeavored  to  remedy. 

The  detective  police  has  ever  been  an  indispensable  institution  in 
the  old  monarchies  of  other  lands.  The  throne  is  apart  from  the 
people,  and  under  its  shadow  watchful  eyes  must  guard  the  sover 
eign's  life  and  law,  by  observing  and  reporting  the  first  symptom  of 
discontent,  or  intimations  of  a  treasonable  plot. 

In  a  republic  the  people  govern,  and  in  the  nature  of  things  an 
official  espionage  in  the  time  of  peace  over  their  conduct,  by  some  of 
their  own  number,  is  contrary  to  the  genius  of  the  institutions  they 
create  and  control.  But  when  war,  especially  its  most  fearful  form, 
a  civil  conflict,  exists,  the  unnatural  condition  of  things  calls  for  the 
detective  service,  to  watch  and  bring  to  justice  the  enemies  of  the 
State,  who  are  plotting  its  ruin. 

There  are  reasons  why  such  needful  and  valuable  service  has  fallen 
into  dishonor,  many  regarding  it  as  small  and  doubtful  business  in  its 
n-ature,  thoroughly  illustrated  by  the  common  adage,  "  It  takes  a 
rogue  to  catch  a  rogue."  In  despotic  countries,  shrewd  and  unprin 
cipled  men  have  been  largely  employed  to  betray  their  companions  in 
guilt,  and,  guided  by  their  experiences  in  vice,  to  put  the  police  and 
other  oflicers  of  justice  on  the  track  of  criminals. 


36  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

In  this  country,  the  Detective  Bureau  was  entirely  new;  and 
there  was,  for  a  time,  mismanagement  of  its  work  in  certain  quarters 
Department  commanders,  district  and  post  provost-marshals,  and. 
post  quartermasters,  permitted  by  military  law  and  array  regulations 
to  do  so,  have,  in  the  contingencies  of  the  case,  employed  detectives. 
Most  of  these  persons  had  only  a  limited  knowledge  of  the  detective 
service.  As  an  inevitable  result,  the  most  ignorant,  unscrupulous, 
and  worthless  characters  were  sometimes  employed  by  them. 

The  fact  is,  the  detective  business  for  the  war  was  commenced 
with  no  head,  system,  or  regulations,  excepting  such  as  were  made  by 
those  having  no  knowledge  of  the  peculiar  and  difficult  business. 

Had  Congress  passed  a  law  at  the  outset  of  the  Rebellion,  author 
izing  the  organization  of  a  detective  police,  with  a  head  responsible 
only  to  the  War  or  some  other  Department,  no  complaints  would 
ever  have  been  heard  against  a  detective  police  system. 

From  the  nature  of  the  detective's  professional  work,  he  mus-t 
pre-eminently  awaken  prejudice  at  every  step,  and  make  bitter  ene 
mies,  not  only  among  those  hostile  to  the  cause  with  which  his  special 
service  is  connected,  but  also  among  its  friends. 

He  must  interfere  with  plans  of  speculation,  and  cut  off  extra 
rations,  which  unlawful  appropriations  might  secure.  Then,  again, 
his  business  forbids  him  to  give  his  authority  for  certain  acts,  or 
assign  any  reason  for  his  procedure.  Hence  the  clamor  was  often 
raised,  of  rash  and  lawless  abuse  of  power,  when  all  the  time  he  was 
acting  under  the  direct  orders  of  Government.  These  statements 
will  have  abundant  confirmation  in  the  pages  of  this  history. 

And  we  doubt  whether  any  other  officer,  not  excepting  the 
Lieutenant-General,  has  more  patiently  borne  misrepresentation  and 
abuse  in  silence,  for  the  sake  of  the  common  cause  of  the  country, 
than  General  Baker. 

With  sublime  moral  courage,  for  nearly  five  years  he  toiled  on, 
with  the  crushing  weight  of  public  opinion,  and  prejudice,  and  peril 
of  death  constantly  before  him,  sustained  by  exalted  patriotism, 
and  a  laudable  desire  to  excel  in  his  peculiar  service  or  line  of  duty. 
While  the  public  press  was  filled  with  eulogies  upon  daring  and  valor 
of  officers  in  the  field,  the  Chief  of  the  Detective  Bureau,  whose 
deeds  are  no  less  heroic,  and  the  importance  of  whose  achievement* 


GENERAL  BAKER  AND  THE  SECRET  SERVICE.  37 

cannot  oe  over-estimated,  if  noticed  at  all  by  the  press,  is  referred  to 
in  a  doubtful  or  contemptuous  manner.  And  even  when  the  chief 
and  his  subordinates  frequented  the  presidential  mansion,  after  the 
execution  of  the  assassins  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  because  telegrams  were 
receired  from  leading  army  officers,  giving  information  of  a  design 
by  friends  of  the  murderers  to  avenge  their  death,  the  object  and 
motives  of  the  protection  were  unappreciated  and,  by  a  member  of 
the  cabinet,  denounced.  The  facts  will  appear  in  the  progress  of 
f these  annals. 

He  was  not  permitted  to  disclose  nis  authority  for  the  summary 
Avnrk  he  was  required  to  do.  The  propriety  for  such  a  course  by  the 
War  Department  we  do  not  question,  for  we  know  not  the  reasons 
back  of  it — they  are  not  given.  The  fact,  however,  presents  clearly 
the  offensive  position  in  which  he  was  placed  by  the  difficult  and 
perilous  office  he  held,  even  while  he  desired  to  be  transferred  to  a 
more  pleasant  service.  He  was  thus  the  target  of  unjust  suspicion 
and  bitterest  hate,  when  the  true  object  of  the  popular  and  personal 
displeasure  was  in  reality  the  Government  he  was  faithfully  obeying. 
We  give  here  a  single  forcible  illustration  of  the  truth  of  these 
statements,  and  of  General  Baker's  uncomplaining  endurance  of  un 
deserved  persecution. 

During  1862,  an  order  was  issued  to  arrest  a  certain  prominent 
Pennsylvanian,  on  the  charge  of  selling  a  large  quantity  of  bandages 
and  lint  donated  by  ladies  benevolent  societies  in  Philadelphia  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Union  soldiers. 

General  Baker  knew  nothing  about  the  case,  having  no  acquaint 
ance  even  with  the  individual,  nor  the  charges  brought  against 
him. 

It  was  his  official  work  only  to  arrest  and  confine  him  in  the  Old 
Capitol  prison.  This  duty  he  performed.  Within  an  hour,  a  whole 
delegation  of  friends  called  at  General  Baker's  headquarters,  and,  in 
an  excited  and  boisterous  manner,  demanded  the  prisoner's  release. 
He  was  offered  a  large  amount  for  bail.  To  all  this  outcry  and  ap 
peal,  he  calmly  replied,  that  he  knew  nothing  of  the  charges ;  was 
simply  executing  orders.  The  same  evening,  an  indignation  meeting 

was  held,  presided  over  by  Judge  B ,  a  prominent  Union  man  of 

Pennsylvania.  Resolutions  wore  passed,  openly  denouncing  General 


38  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

Baker  as  an  arbitrary,  vindictive  man,  and  appointing  a  committee 
to  wait  on  the  President  and  Secretary  of  War,  asking  for  his  dis 
missal  from  service.  In  this  instance,  which  is  one  among  many  of  a 
similar  character,  lie  was  not  permitted  to  show  the  order  of  arrest 
to  any  citizei .  A  reporter  was  never  allowed  to  enter  his  head 
quarters,  nor  any  communication  allowed  to  be  had  by  his  bureau 
rcith  the  public  press.  Yet  there  are  not  wanting  cheering  tokens 
of  confidence  and  esteem.  The  citizens  of  Philadelphia  presented 
him  with  a  badge  of  solid  gold,  nearly  three  inches  square,  sur 
mounted  by  an  eagle  carved  from  the  coin,  and  bearing  on  a  scroll 
the  words  "  Death  to  Traitors;"  and  on  the  bnck,  "Presented  to 
L.  C.  Baker,  by  his  friends."  Its  value  was  not  less  than  two  hundred 
dollars. 

The  officers  of  the  First  District  Cavalry,  raised  by  General  Baker, 
presented  to  him  an  elegant  saber,  with  sash  of  China  silk,  valued  at 
about  the  same  amount.  . 

He  was  also  the  recipient,  from  officers,  of  the  most  elaborately 
finished  saddle  and  trappings  probably  in  the  country.  Its  value 
was  six  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  These  and  other  mementoes  of 
regard  confirm  the  statement,  made  by  prominent  officers,  that  his 
subordinates  in  the  Bureau,  numbering  in  all  about  four  hundred, 
were  ready  w  fight  for  him. 

We  have  received,  among  other  volunteer  testimony  to  his  official 
sagacity  and  achievements,  the  following — the  first  from  a  chaplain 
in  "  Baker's  Cavalry,"  the  other  from  another  army  chaplain  : — 

"General  Baker,  I  think,  acquitted  himself  with  marvelous  tact, 
energy,  and  success.  He  was  the  terror  of  all  rogues,  whether  with 
clean  faces  or  dirty,  in  broadcloth  or  rag<,  with  a  general's  star  or  a 
corporal's  stripe.  I  think  that,  during  the  most  critical  period  of  the 
war,  he  was  (next  to  Secretary  Stanton)  the  most  important  officer  of 
the  Government." 

WASHINGTON,  I).  C..  June  IS,  1866. 

"  In  regard  to  Gen.  L.  C.  Baker,  Chief  Detective  of  the  War  Depart 
ment,  during  the  late  rebellion,  I  feel  it  a  duty  to  say  :  Firot.  It  is 
scarcely  possible  to  estimate  the  good  he  has  accomplished  in  strength 
ening  the  armies  afield.  Second.  In  weeding  out  the  mischievous  and 
the  worthless.  Third.  In  making  copperheads,  scoundrels,  and  traitors 


GENERAL   BAKER   AND   THE   SECRET   SERVICE.  39 

feel  the  secret  war  power  at  home.  I  believe  him  to  have  done  more 
during  the  late  war  to  save  the  country  than  any  -other  single  power. 
His  name  carried  with  it  a  dread  that  made  evil-doers  tremble.  He 
was  always  at  his  post  when  wanted  (a  rare  trait),  and  most  efficient 
when  active.  Booth  knew  that  Baker  was  in  New  York,  or  he  would 
have  delayed  the  tragedy  of  the  14th  of  April,  1865  !  And  when  ho 
knew  that  Baker  was  on  his  trail,  his  heart  fainted  in  him,  and  lost 
all  hope  ! 

"  And  now  about  certain  facts  Baker  may  state  with  respect  to  men 
high  in  official  relation  with  the  Government  or  otherwise  :  The  half 
he  will  not  tell.  I  know  of  many  things  he  will  not  state  which  I 
would.  I  have  no  mercy  on  men  who  will  corrupt  and  contaminate  all 
with  whom  they  come  in  official  contact ;  and  meji  who,  in  time  of 
peace,  after  treason  has  been  put  down,  again  secretly  plot  the  over 
throw  of  a  Government  at  once  the  best  and., noblest  that  the  sun  of 
the  Eternal  ever  shone  upon. 

"I  hope  to  see  truth  come,  let  it  cut  where  it  may,  as  I  believe  the 
country  to  be  still  in  danger  ;  and  unless  some  master  hand  will  seize 
the  knife  and  lay  open  the  festering  wound,  the  disease  of  the  Repub 
lic  will  never  heal !  "  I  am,  very  respectfully." 

It  may  interest  the  curious  reader  to  give  some  illustrative  inci 
dents  in  regard  to  trivial  circumstances  which  lead  to  detection,  and 
which  would  escape  the  notice  of  men  unaccustomed  to  the  close 
observation  indispensable  to  success  in  the  secret  service. 

The  clue  to  a  deserter's  character  was  found  in  his  bronzed  face, 
while  his  dresss  and  positive  declarations  indicated  the  life  of  a  quiet 
citizen.  In  another  case,  the  falsehood  was  exposed  by  the  spur-mark 
in  the  boot.  A  soldier  in  disguise,  and  asserting  his  innocence  of 
battle-service,  was  detected  through  an  examination  of  his  hand,  on  the 
palm  of  which  was  a  callous  spot  where  the  gun-lock  had  pressed  in 
the  march. 

The  red  line  on  Government  stockings  and  the  peculiar  style  of  the 
shirts  have  revealed  the  fact  denied  by  the  lips  and  all  the  rest  of  the 
apparel. 

A  deserter  from  the  Twelfth  New  York  Battery  so  well  concealed 
his  '*  soldiering  "  that  nothing  about  his  person  confirmed  my  suspicions 


40  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

At  last  General  Baker  resorted  to  strategy.  He  watched  for  an 
opportunity  when  he  \vas  lazily  dozing  in  his  office,  and  suddenly  and 
loudly  shouted  :  "  Fall  in,  men  !"  He  started  up,  looked  around,  and 
began  to  prepare  for  the  march.  It  was  plainly  useless  to  deny  any 
longer  that  lie  had  been  in  the  ranks. 

At  another  t:me,  General  Baker  was  searching  for  a  female  spy, 
and  had  his  attention  drawn  to  rather  a  delicate-looking  young  man, 
whom  he  followed,  with  some  companions,  into  a  saloon.  When  they 
stood  before  the  bar,  drinking  and  talking,  he  noticed  that  this  youth 
threw  up  the  fingers  often  to  brush  aside  the  hair.  The  form  was 
shaped  like  a  woman's,  and  in  a  sitting  posture  the  hands  were  crossed 
just  as  women  are  in  the  habit  of  placing  them. 

He  called  the  astonished  stranger  aside,  and  desired  a  private  inter 
view,  in  which  he  said  the  game  of  deception  was  finished — that  he 
knew  both  the  sex  and  business  in  hand.  She  burst  into  tears,  and 
confessed  all. 

Not  unfrequently  the  simplest  disguises  were  entirely  successful. 
The  slouched  hat  drawn  down  over  the  forehead ;  the  garb  of 
"  butternut,"  or  of  an  honest  farmer ;  the  dress  and  manner  of  an 
itinerant  Jew  ;  the  face  and  gait  of  an  inebriate, — each  served  the 
purpose  of  an  introduction  to  the  desired  company  and  scenes. 

We  might  multiply  illustrations,  and  make  an  inventory  of  dis 
guises  in  apparel  and  modes  of  dressing  the  hair  and  face  to  which  the 
detective  is  compelled  to  resort.  But,  excepting  the  narratives  which 
will  make  further  revelations  of  the  kind,  these  will  be  sufficient  to 
indicate  the  varied  language  of  moral  and  professional  character  and 
pursuits  to  a  practiced  eye. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  fact  that  the  detective 
police  of  the  Government  were  brought  into  disrepute,  and  some 
reasons  assigned  for  it.  His  bureau  was  known  as  the  only  regularly 
organized  national  police,  although,  as  stated  before,  there  were 
employed,  at  the  headquarters  of  every  department  commander, 
provost-marshal,  and  quartermaster,  a  large  number  of  persons  repre 
senting  themselves  as  Government  detectives.  These  men  had  been 
selected,  in  many  instances,  from  the  most  worthless  and  disreputable 
characters,  and  whenever  they  were  found  to  be  receiving  bribes,  or 
committing  other  offenses,  they  were  always  denominated  "  Baker's 


GENERAL  BAKER  AND  THE  SECRET  SERVICE.  41 

detectives."  The  reporters  of  the  press  invariably  did  this.  Hence 
he  was  held  responsible  to  the  public  for  the  acts  of  these  scoundrels, 
when  in  fact  he  knew  nothing  of  their  operations,  except  as  he  might 
have  occasion,  from  time  to  time,  to  arrest  them  himself.  The  provost- 
marshal  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  appointed  under  the  Enrollment 
Act,  for  the  recruiting  service,  had  employed  at  one  titne  a  large  num 
ber  of  these  detectives.  Scarcely  a  day  passed  but  complaints  were 
made  at  his  headquarters  respecting  these  men.  There  was  in  the  vicin 
ity  of  Washington  a  large  military  force;  and  a  bounty  had  been  offer 
ed  for  the  apprehension  of  deserters.  The  enrolling  provost-marshal  at 
Washington  had  detailed  a  number  of  his  detectives  and  placed  them 
on  duty  at  the  Baltimore  depot  in  Washington,  for  the  purpose  of 
apprehending  them.  A  deserter,  in  citizen's  clothes,  would  repair 
to  the  depot,  and  attempt  to  enter  the  cars ;  these  officers  would 
arrest  him,  and  for  a  small  bribe  allow  him  to  go  at  large.  This  was 
practiced  for  many  months.  Colonel  Baker  called  the  attention  of  the 
Secretary  of  War  to  the  fact,  but  there  seemed  to  be  no  remedy. 
Finally,  he  determined  to  ascertain  who  these  detectives  were.  Assu 
ming  the  garb  and  dress  of  a  loafer  and  deserter,  he  one  evening 
repaired  to  the  depot.  He  was  so  completely  disguised  that  his  own 
men  did  not  recognize  him.  On  attempting  to  pass  the  gate  and  enter 
the  cars,  he  was  stopped  by  an  individual  who  said,  "Let  me  see  your 
ticket."  He  showed  him  his  railroad  ticket,  when  he  charged  him 
with  being  a  deserter.  He  replied  that  he  was  not ;  that  he  was  a 
citizen,  and  did  not  want  to  be  detained.  One  or  two  other  detectives 
approached,  and  all  insisted  that  he  should  be  arrested.  Accordingly, 
he  was  taken  into  a  small  room,  with  one  or  two  others,  who  had  also 
been  arrested  and  searched.  They  took  from  him  his  passage  ticket, 
a  valuable  gold  watch,  and  some  seventy-five  dollars  in  treasury  notes, 
which  he  had  marked  for  the  occasion.  He  was  then  placed  in  charge 
of  a  detective,  to  be  taken  to  the  provost-marshal's  headquarters. 
Instead  of  taking  Colonel  Baker  directly  there,  the  detective  took 
him  to  a  low  drinking-saloon  on  Seventh  Street,  near  the  avenue, 
called  the  "  JVlcClellan  House,"  which  was  the  general  rendezvous  of 
these  detectives  and  deserters.  He  was  here  asked  to  take  a  drink,  but 
he  declined,  pretending  to  feel  very  badly  about  his  arrest.  He  was 
then  taken  into  a  back  room,  and  in  the  presence  of  detectives  No.  1 


42  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

and  2,  his  watch  and  money  were  divided  between  the  two  detectives, 
He  was  here  told  that  he  could  go  at  large,  provided  he  would  leave 
his  watch  and  money.  He  complained  bitterly  of  this  treatment,  and 
threatened  to  report  the  facts  to  Colonel  Baker,  when  they  laughed, 
and  remarked  that  they  were  not  Colonel  Baker's  detectives,  but  the 
detectives  of  the  provost-marshal.  He  consented  to  give  them  the 
money,  but  declined  to  give  up  his  watch,  as  it  was  a  very  valuable 
one.  This  refusal  induced  detective  No.  2  to  take  him  to  the  provost- 
marshal's  headquarters.  On  the  way  there,  he  had  a  conversation 
with  the  detective,  who  told  him  it  was  very  foolish  for  him  to  go  to 
headquarters ;  if  he  went  there,  he  would  be  locked  up  for  several 
days,  and  finally  sent  back  to  his  regiment,  tried,  and  perhaps  shot  as 
a  deserter.  He  persisted,  however,  in  declining  to  deliver  up  the 
watch.  On  arriving  at  headquarters,  Baker  was  ushered  into  a  room, 
where,  seated  at  a  table,  he  saw  the  provost-marshal,  with  whom  he  was 
well  acquainted,  and  his  clerks,  none  of  whom  recognized  him.  Tha 
detective  remarked  to  the  provost-marshal,  "  Here  is  a  deserter, 
captain,  that  we  have  taken  at  the  depot.  He  won't  tell  what 
regiment  he  belongs  to,  but  if  we  lock  him  up  a  few  days,  and  put 
him  under  the  shower-bath,  he  will  probably  tell  all  about  it."  The 
provost-marshal  said  to  him,  "  What  regiment  do  you  belong  to  ?" 
He  said,  "  Sir,  I  am  not  a  deserter,  but  a  citizen."  He  remarked, 
"Oh,  that's  played  out.  We  know  you;  we  have  been  looking  for 
you  for  some  time."  Some  other  conversation  occurred,  and  the  pro 
vost-marshal  directed  that  Baker  should  be  locked  up.  He  took  off 
his  old  slouched  hat,  and,  standing  at  the  end  of  the  tabk.,  said  to  the 
provost-marshal,  "  I  am  Colonel  Baker.  I  have  assumed  this  disguise 
for  the  purpose  of  detecting  your  detectives,  and  ascertaining  the 
modus  operandi  by  which  deserters  are  allowed  to  escape."  The 
aspect  of  a  proud  superiority  gave  place  to  that  of  consternation.  The 
detective  attempted  to  leave  the  room,  when  Colonel  Baker  imme 
diately  arrested  him,  took  him  to  his  headquarters,  searched  him,  and 
found  a  portion  of  the  money  he  had  marked,  in  his  pocket. 

It  was  a  standing  complaint  against  the  Detective  Police  Bureau 
that  the  force  was  liable  to  be  corrupted.  In  no  other  branch* of 
public  service  were  the  opportunities  so  great  for  manipulation  and 
bribery  as  in  the  police  department.  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that 


*}fe>  was  ^ere  asked  to  taJce  a, 

.^^•^ 

DETECTIVE  WORK  AROUND  THE  BALTIMORE  DEPOT 


V  •  - 


GENERAL  BAKER  AND  THE  SECRET  SERVICE.  43 

nearly  every  individual  arrested,  who  represented  or  personated  ao 
officer  of  the  Government,  was  alleged  to  be  one  tof  Colonel  Baker's 
men.  At  Barnum's  Museum,  in  1865,  a  man  was  arrested  who 
had  a  forged  appointment  from  him.  At  Elmira,  New  York,  an 
other  was  arrested  with  a  similar  paper,  endorsed  by  the  Secre 
tary  of  War.  These,  and  hundreds  of  other  instances  of  a  simila 
character,  were  heralded  through  the  country  as  a  sufficient  reason 
why  the  Detective  Bureau  should  be  abolished.  In  New  York,  two 
individuals  by  the  names  of  McNeil  and  Garvin  had  for  a  long 
time  represented  themselves  as  attached  to  his  force.  They  visited 
saloons  and  gambling-houses,  threatening  to  close  them  up  unless 
certain  sums  of  money  were  paid.  Their  operations  were  principally 
confined  to  the  arrest  of  deserters,  who  were  endeavoring  to  keep  out 
of  the  way  of  arrest.  In  the  month  of  February,  these  individuals 
arrested  one  John  H.  Harris,  who  was  an  omnibus-driver  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  and  demanded  from  him  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars,  in  consideration  of  which  they  would  allow  him  to  go  at 
large.  The  fact  was  reported  to  Colonel  Baker,  and  he  immediately 
detailed  officers  to  search  for  these  bogus  detectives. 

Harris  not  having  the  money  with  him,  but  having  a  friend  in 
Maiden  Lane,  by  the  name  of  Depew,  he  asked  McNeil  and  Garvin  to 
come  to  his  friend's  store  the  following  morning  and  he  would  give 
them  the  one  hundred  dollars.  In  the  mean  time  Baker  directed  a 
detective  to  conceal  himself  in  the  store.  At  the  appointed  time  the 
detectives  arrived,  received  the  one  hundred  dollars,  and  were  imme 
diately  arrested,  tried,  convicted,  and  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary. 

Report  in  cases  of  John  McNeil  and  Charles  Garvin. 

John  H.  Harris,  of  No    156  West  Thirty-fifth    Street,  bet  wee 
Sixth  and  Seventh  Avenues,  stage-driver,  states  : — 

He  has  been  arrested  twice  before  this,  on  charge  of  being  a 
deserter ;  both  times  discharged,  and  no  proof  against  him. 

On  February  17,  1865,  McNeil  and  Garvin  got  into  his  stage, 
rode  with  him  to  the  end  of  his  route,  \vhere  they  arrested  him  on 
charge  of  being  a  deserter;  told  him  they  were  Government  officers, 
and  proposed  to  compromise  the  matter  with  him.  He  took  them  to 


44  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

his  house,  and  arranged  to  pay  them  one  hundred  dollars  if  they 
would  meet  him  the  next  day  at  the  office  of  a  Mr.  Depew.  They 
declined  ;  then  went  together  to  Depcw's  hotel,  represented  them 
selves  to  Depew  as  Government  officers,  and  authorized  to  make 
arrests  ;  agreed  to  let  off  Harris  if  Depew  would  become  responsible 
for  the  payment  of  one  hundred  dollars  next  day.  Depew  agreed  to 
do  so  ;  parties  arranged  to  meet  at  Depew's  office,  No.  53  Cedar 
Street.  Depew  then  gave  information  to  Colonel  Baker,  who  sent 
one  officer  to  the  place  of  meeting.  The  parties  met ;  McNeil  pro 
fessing  to  have  a  descriptive  list  for  Harris,  which  he  said  he  would 
tear  up  on  receipt  of  the  one  hundred  dollars.  The  one  hundred 
dollars  were  paid  by  Depew  to  McNeil  and  Garvin,  when  the  officer 
appeared  and  took  them  into  custody. 

The  money  and  certain  papers  are  transmitted  to  you  with  this 
statement.  The  money  will  be  needed  in  proof,  after  which  I  think 
it  should  be  returned  to  Depew. 

J.   II.  HARRIS. 

It  may  be  said,  that  the  deception  and  misstatements  resorted  to, 
and  inseparable  from  the  detective  service,  are  demoralizing,  and  prove 
unsoundness  of  character  in  its  officers.  But  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that,  in  war,  no  commander  fails  to  deceive  the  enemy  when  possible, 
to  secure  the  least  advantage.  Spies,  scouts,  intercepted  correspon 
dence,  feints  in  army  movements,  misrepresentations  of  military 
strength  and  position,  are  regarded  as  honorable  means  of  securing 
victory  over  the  foe.  The  work  ol  the  detective  is  simply  deception 
reduced  to  a  science  or  profession  ;  and  whatever  objection,  on  ethical 
grounds,  may  lie  against  the  secret  service,  lies  with  equal  force  against 
the  strategy  and  tactics  of  Washington,  Scott,  Grant,  and  the  host  oi 
their  illustrious  associates  in  the  wars  of  the  world.  War  is  a  last 
and  terrible  resort  in  the  defense  of  even  a  righteous  cause,  and  sets 
at  defiance  all  the  ordinary  laws  and  customs  of  society,  overriding 
the  rights  of  property  and  the  sanctity  of  the  Sabbath.  And  not 
until  the  nations  learn  war  no  more,  will  the  work  of  deception  and 
Waste  of  morals,  men,  and  treasures,  cease. 


CHAPTER    J. 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  BUREAU  OF  DETECTIVE  SERVICE. 

The  first  Visit  to  Washington — Interview  with  General  Hiram  Walbridge,  and  Hon. 
W.  D.  Kflley — Introduction  to  General  Winfield  Scott — Return  to  New  Ycrk 
— A;  pointed  by  General  Scott  to  renew  the  Attempt  to  visit  Richmond — The  first 
Failure — Crossing  the  Lines — The  Arrest — Examinations — Sent  to  General 
Beauregard — On  to  Richmond. 

IN  April,  1861,  I  went  to  Washington,  to  learn,  if  possi 
ble,  in  what  capacity  I  could  serve  the  loyal  cause.  At 
Willard's  Hotel,  I  met  its  able  and  fearless  champion, 
General  Hiram  Walbridge,  of  New  York,  and  the  Hon. 
William  D.  Kelley,  of  Philadelphia.  We  conversed  freely 
upon  the  condition  of  the  country,  and  the  necessity  of  more 
reliable  information  respecting  the  strength  and  movements 
of  the  enemy. 

General  Walbridge  then  saifi  to  me,  "Baker,  you  are 
the  man  of  all  others  to  go  into  this  secret  service  ;  you 
have  the  ability  and  courage."  General  W.,  with  the 
Hon.  Mr.  Kelley,  strongly  urged  an  interview  with  Gen 
eral  Scott,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
United  States  ;  accompanied  by  him  and  the  Hon.  George 
W  Wright,  of  California,  I  went  to  his  rooms.  My  father 
having  fought  under  Gen.  Scott  in  the  last  war  with  England, 
I  was  introduced  as  the  son  of  "an  old  friend,  with  dis 
cretion,  ability,  and  courage  to  do  what  was  necessary." 

After  a  little  general  conversation,  the  venerable  com 
mander  requested  those  present  to  leave  the  room,  when  he 
talked  freely  of  my  experiences  as  a  detective,  and  the 
services  required  to  ascertain  the  strength  and  plans  of  the 
enemy,  requesting  an  interview  the  following  day. 

At  the  hour  appointed,  with  a  deliberate  purpose  to  accept 
any  service  for  the  country  he  might  desire,  I  was  again 
closeted  with  the  Lieut. -General.  After  stating  that  he  had 


46  TOTTED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

thus  far  found  it  impossible  to  obtain  definite  information  re 
specting  the  rebel  forces  at  Manassas,  that  of  the  five  men  who 
had  been  sent  to  Richmond  two  were  known  to  be  killed, 
and  the  other  three  were  probably  taken  prisoners,  with 
patriarchal  and  patriotic  interest,  he  said  to  me:  " Young 
man,  if  you  have  judgment  and  discretion,  you  can  be  of 
great  service  to  the  country." 

I  then  told  him  that  I  could  not  immediately  engage  in  the 
sendee,  but  must  at  once  return  to  New  York,  to  arrange  un 
settled  affairs ;  and  left  him  with  the  understanding  that  I 
should  report  to  him  as  soon  as  circumstances  won  Id  permit. 
The  latter  part  of  June,  I  was  again  in  Washington,  and 
had  repeated  interviews  with  the  General.  The  result  was, 
a  definite  arrangement  for  a  journey  toward  Richmond,  if 
not  into  the  rebel  capital.  Directions  in  detail  were  given 
me  respecting  the  difficult  service  I  was  expected  to  perform. 

Taking  from  his  vest  pocket  ten  double  eagles  of  coin, 
General  Scott  handed  them  to  me,  expressing  the  warmest 
hopes  of  my  success  in  the  excursion  to  "  Dixie." 

July  11,  1861,  I  started  for  Richmond.  Along  the  route 
of  my  travel  toward  the  Confederate  Capital,  and  while 
there,  I  was  to  learn,  if  possible,  the  locality  and  strength  of 
the  hostile  troops,  especially  of  the  dreaded  Black- horse 
cavalry,  and  also  of  their  fortifications  ;  leaving  no  oppor 
tunity  to  gather  items  of  information  concerning  the  move 
ments  and  plans  of  the  enemy  which  might  be  of  any  service 
to  the  Government. 

To  one  unacquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  service,  it 
may  seem  strange  that  our  troops  should  not  know  my  char 
acter  and  design.  But  such  concealment  is  not  only  always 
practiced  in  the  Secret  service,  but  was  pre-eminently  needful 
for  us  at  that  time,  when  we  knew  not  whom  to  trust,  because 
traitors  were  in  the  Government  and  in  the  army.  To  let  the 
Union  troops  into  the  secret,  would  be  to  send  it  to  Rich 
mond  before  I  had  reached  Manassas.  Guarding  the  frontier 
of  the  Confederacy,  the  rebel  army  lay  before  Washington, 
stretching  from  a  point  three  miles  below  Alexandria,  toward 
the  Potomac,  eight  miles  above  the  capital.  At  Alexandria, 
then  recently  stained  with  the  martyr  blood  of  Ellsworth, 
Gen.  Heintzelman  was  Provost-marshal.  No  passes  were 


INTERVIEW    TVITT1    1IEINTZELMAN.  47 

recognized  by  either  the  Union  or  rebel  army,  and  1  must 
necessarily  run  the  risk  equally,  in  the  attempt  to  pass  their 
lines,  of  being  arrested  as  a  spy.  The  surreptitious  move 
ments  would  begin,  therefore,  with  the  first  step  from  Wash 
ington  toward  the  "  sacred  soil  of  Virginia." 

1  went  to  a  daguerrean  establishment,  and  purchased  for 
four  dollars  an  old  box  which  had  once  contained  photo 
graphic  apparatus,  slung  it  across  my  back,  after  the  fashion 
of  an  itinerant  artist,  and  started  for  Alexandria.  Four  miles 
out  of  the  city  I  came  to  the  Second  Maine  Regiment,  and 
proceeded  at  once  to  the  headquarters  of  the  colonel.  He 
received  me  politely,  and  wished  me  to  take  a  view  of  the 
camp,  including  his  tent  and  the  principal  officers  standing 
in  the  foreground.  War  scenes  were  new  to  the  people,  and 
the  desire  was  natural  enough,  to  gratify  friends  at  home 
with  pictures  of  the  martial  field.  After  a  good  dinner,  I 
look  my  box,  and  told  the  colonel  I  would  go  to  a  neighbor 
ing  hill  and  take  views  of  the  encampment,  then  return  to 
photograph  the  headquarters.  I  was  soon  in  the  woods  with 
my  hollow  box,  eluding  guards,  and  pushing  forward  through 
the  tangled  undergrowth,  toward  the  heart  of  rebeldom. 
When  across  the  Federal  lines  as  I  supposed,  I  was  startled 
with  the  shout,  u  Who  goes  there  ?"  I  looked  up,  to  see  a 
sentinel,  with  lifted  gun,  standing  upon  a  knoll  just  before  me. 

I  had  no  alternative  but  to  surrender,  and  march  with 
him  to  the  colonel's  quarters.  This  officer  was  sure  lie  had 
caught  a  spy,  and,  escorted  by  ten  men,  I  was  sent  back  along 
the  railroad,  the  same  way  I  came,  to  General  Heintzelman's 
headquarters.  The  lieutenant  in  charge  presented  me  to  the 
commanding  officer,  with  the  following  nattering  and  promis 
ing  introduction  :  ' '  Here  is  a  spy,  general,  that  we  found 
lurking  about  our  camp,  trying  to  get  through  the  lines." 

"  Oh  !  you  villain  you,  you,"  said  Heintzelman,  with  hi 
usual  nasal  twang  and  an  oath,  ' '  trying  to  get  through  my 
lines,  are  you?  I've  a  good  notion  to  cut  your  head  off ! 
But  I'll  fix  you,  you  rascal ;  I'll  send  you  to  General  Scott." 
Another  guard,  with  a  message  from  the  brave  general,  who 
was  evidently  gratified  with  the  successful  vigilance  of  his 
raen,  was  ordered  for  me,  and  I  was  hurried  away  to  Wash 
ington.  The  escort  was  dismissed  bv  General  Scott,  and  niv 


48  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

story  told.  With  an  expression  that  indicated  "both  amuse 
ment  at  the  ruse,  and  its  failure,  and  confidence  in  me,  the 
old  veteran  said  :  "  Well,  try  again  !" 

The  uprising  North  was  now  sending  her  legions  to  the 
field  of  civil  conflict,  and  in  an  almost  unbroken  line  they 
were  marching  over  Long  Bridge  into  Virginia.  That  nig]  it, 
I  took  a  position  at  the  end  of  the  bridge,  and,  when  a  regi 
ment  came  down  broken  into  considerable  disorder,  I  stepped 
into  the  ranks,  hoping  to  be  borne  along  with  the  troops. 
Unfortunately,  a  lieutenant  saw  the  movement,  and,  taking 
me  by  the  collar,  put  me  under  guard,  and  sent  me  back  to 
the  rear.  Another  night  was  spent  in  Washington,  but  not 
wholly  in  sleep.  My  mind  was  busy  with  new  plans  for  a 
successful  visit  to  the  Confedsrate  capital. 

With  the  dawn  of  the  next  morning  I  renewed  my  jour 
ney  afoot  through  the  lower  counties  of  Maryland,  toward 
Port  Tobacco,  traveling  thirty-five  miles  that  day,  and  reach 
ing  that  town  at  night.  Exhaustion  prepared  me  for  sound 
and  refreshing  sleep.  In  the  morning  I  gave  a  negro  a  twenty- 
dollar  gold  piece  to  row  me  across  the  river,  wh^n  I  was 
safely  in  the  Confederacy,  below  Dumfries.  The  country 
was  wooded,  and  an  unfrequented  road,  whose  general  direc 
tion  was  toward  Richmond,  suggested  the  line  of  my  ad 
vance  into  the  Old  Dominion.  I  pursued  my  solitary  journey 
through  the  desolate  country,  slaking  thirst,  excited  by  the 
heat  of  the  Southern  sun,  at  brooks  which  at  intervals  crossed 
my  path.  I  could  necessarily  have  no  settled  plan  of  future 
movements,  but  trusted  to  providential  indications  of  what, 
under  the  circumstances,  it  would  be  prudent  and  politic  to 
do.  With  that  entire  composure  of  feeling  and  self-reliance 
which  attend  a  purpose,  however  daring,  when  once  the 
die  is  cast,  to  reach  its  final  issue,  I  cast  my  eye  over  the 
sparsely-settled  country,  with  its  old  roads  crossed  with 
paths,  and  studded  with  oaks,  particularly  careful  to  observe 
the  least  sign  of  a  human  form  within  its  horizon.  Four  miles 
of  distance  lay  between  me  and  the  banks  of  the  Potomac, 
when  two  Confederate  soldiers  made  their  appearance,  too 
near  me  to  make  an  escape  possible.  I  was  taken  prisoner 
under  an  order  to  arrest  as  a  spy  any  stranger  passing  that 
way,  arid  marched  off  towaid  camD,  eight  miles  distant.  A 


SECOND   ATTEMPT  TO   CROSS   THE   LINES.  49 

beer  shop  by  the  roadside  tempted  the  guard,  and  we  al] 
entered  it.  I  was  invited  to  drink.  I  saw  my  opportunity; 
and,  although  I  never  indulge  in  stimulants,  accepted  the 
offer  of  a  glass  of  ah1,  and  in  return  treated  my  captors.  The 
generous  indulgence  was  repeated,  until  my  escort  were 
stupidly  under  the  influence  of  the  potations,  and  fel)  asleep 
on  the  stoop  of  the  beer-house,  leaving  me  to  go  unmolested 
on  my  way. 

I  went  up  the  road  toward  Manassas  Junction,  congrat 
ulating  myself  on  my  easy  escape,  when  four  rebel  cavalry 
men  suddenly  came  out  of  the  brush  and  ordered  me  to  halt ; 
then  drawing  their  sabers,  commanded  me  to  surrender.  I 
replied  to  them  :  "I  am  a  peaceful  citizen,  unarmed,  and  on 
my  way  to  Richmond."  One  dismounted,  proceeded  to 
search  me,  and  succeeded  in  linding  a  number  of  letters 
introducing  me  to  prominent  rebels  in  Richmond.  Among 
them  were  two  written  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shuck,  for  many 
years  a  missionar}r  in  China.  He  returned  to  California, 
where  I  had  formed  his  acquaintance,  and  came  to  the  Atlan 
tic  States  in  the  same  steamer  with  myself.  He  was  at  this 
time  chaplain  of  a  rebel  regiment  near  Richmond.  After 
obtaining  possession  of  all  my  letters,  the  boastful  chivalry 
could  not  read  them.  They  requested  me  to  be  seated,  while 
they  heard  from  me  the  contents  of  the  epistles. 

Taking  advantage  of  their  ignorance,  I  read  such  portions 
as  I  chose.  They  at  once  directed  me  to  proceed  undei 
guard  to  Brentsville,  distant  about  ten  miles — they  riding, 
and  keeping  me  on  foot  between  them,  and  constantly  con 
versing  in  a  low  tone  of  voice  respecting  the  importance  of 
the  arrest.  Arriving  at  Brentsville  at  ten  o'clock,  p.  M.,  I 
was  taken  to  the  headquarters  of  General  Bonham,  of  South 
Carolina,  commanding  at  that  point,  ushered  into  the  large 
tent  occupied  by  General  Bonham  and  staff  officers,  and 
ordered  to  take  a  seat.  In  a  few  minutes,  General  Bonham, 
in  splendid  uniform,  took  a  seat  beside  me,  and  commenced 
conversation,  by  asking  the  direct  question,  "Where  did 
you  come  from,  and  where,  are  you  going?"  I  replied:  "I 
came  from  Washington,  and  am  on  my  way  to  Richmond." 
Apparently  unconscious  of  the  deference  due  to  the  com 
manding  officer.  I  sat  with  mv  hat  on.  Observing  it,  he 


5L  UNITED  STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

said,  "Take  off  your  hat,  sir."     With  the  order,  I  at  once 
complied. 

The  letters  were  then  handed  to  General  Bonham  by  one 
of  the  captors. 

After  reading,  he  said,   "How  dare  you  come  inside  of 
*my  lines  1" 

Exhibiting  proper  surprise  and  indignation,  I  replied,  ' 
am  a  loyal  and  peaceful  citizen  of  the  United  States,  engaged 
in  an  honorable  and  legitimate  pursuit,     I  have  business  in 
Richmond,  and  desire  to  go  there." 

He  replied,  "Well,  I  will  see  that  you  do  go  there.  I 
believe  you  are  a  Yankee  spy,  and  I'll  send  you  to  General 
Beauregard  at  once."  He  gave  the  necessary  order  to  detail 
a  guard,  and,  handing  a  sealed  letter  to  a  lieutenant  standing 
by,  said,  "  Put  this  man  in  irons,  and  with  this  letter  take 
him  to  General  Beauregard' s  headquarters."  Accordingly 
I  left  Brentsville  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  protesting,  how 
ever,  against  being  compelled  to  go  on  foot.  He  said,  "  As 
you  have  chosen  that  mode  of  conveyance,  sir,  you  ought 
not  now  to  find  fault.  Take  him  away." 

We  arrived  at  Manassas  Junction  about  daylight,  and 
went  to  General  Beauregard' s  headquarters  —  the  Weire 
House.  Completely  exhausted  by  the  walk,  and  the  excite 
ment  attending  the  arrest,  I  laid  down  in  front  of  the  house 
and  went  to  sleep.  At  nine  o'clock  A.  M.,  I  was  awakened 
by  the  warm,  bright  rays  of  the  sun,  shining  in  my  face, 
and  found  myself  in  charge  of  the  guard  attached  to  the 
headquarters.  I  called  for  food,  and  was  informed  that 
General  Beauregard  desired  to  see  me.  I  was  taken  into  his 
presence,  with  whom  were  two  or  three  staff  officers.  Point 
ing  to  an  open  letter  (General  Bonham's,  I  supposed),  he 
said  :  "From  this  letter  I  see  you  have  been  found  within 
our  lines.  What  explanation  have  you  to  make  ?" 

I  replied,  "I  am  from  Washington,  and  going  to  Rich 
mond,  on  private  business.  I  have  not  intended  to  violate 
any  law,  regulation,  or  military  rule,  of  the  Confederate 
army." 

"When  did  you  leave  Washington  1" 
"Day  before  yesterday,"  I  replied. 
44  Where  did  you  cross  the  river  ?" 


AT  BEADREGARD'S  HEADQUARTERS.         51 

"In  the  vicinity  of  Port  Tobacco." 

"How  did  you  get  across  ?" 

"Ina  boat." 

"  Who  brought  you  across  ?" 

"A  negro." 

"  So  you  are  going  to  Richmond,  are  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  if  I  can  get  there  ;  but  am  willing  to  return  if  you 
will  permit  me  to  do  so." 

"No ;  I  prefer  that  you  should  go  to  Richmond.  Where 
do  you  reside  1" 

"I  have  lived  in  California  the  last  ten  years;  but  for 
merly  lived  in  the  South." 

"  What  part  of  the  South  ?" 

' '  Knox ville,  Tennessee. ' ' 

"How  long  since  you  were  in  Knoxvillef 

"Ten  or  twelve  years." 

"  What  is  your  name  ?" 

"  Samuel  Munson." 

•kYes,  I  see  from  your  letters  that  that  is  your  name; 
but  what  was  your  name  before  you  turned  spy?" 

"  I  am  no  spy." 

"  I  believe  you  are  ;  and,  if  I  was  satisfied  of  it,  I  would 
hang  you  on  that  tree,"  pointing  through  an  open  window 
to  an  oak-tree  in  full  view.  "Orderly,"  he  added,  "take 
this  man  out  and  put  him  in  the  guard-house." 

"  I  am  very  hungry  ;  can  you  give  me  breakfast  ?" 

"  You  will  find  breakfast  in  the  guard- house." 

I  was  taken  by  the  guard  to  a  stockade  or  pen,  inside  of 
which  was  a  log-house.  Following  the  officer  in  command, 
I  said  : 

"  Sir,  I  am  very  hungry — can  you  give  me  something  to 
eat?" — taking  from  my  pocket  a  gold  eagle.  At  sight  of 
.the  coin,  he  said — 

"  What  will  you  have  ?" 

"  Send  out  and  get  me  the  worth  of  that,  or  the  best 
breakfast  you  can  get." 

He  soon  returned  with  a  good  warm  breakfast  and  a  bot 
tle  of  sour  wine.  The  wine  I  gave  to  the  guard,  and  ate  the 
breakfast. 

Having  put  myself  on  good  terms  with  the  officer  in 


02  UNITED   STATES   SECRET  SERVICE 

command  of  the  guard-house,  he  asked  me  what  I  waa 
there  for. 

I  replied  I  did  not  know — but,  if  not  in  vi  r>lation  of  his 
orders,  would  like  to-  go  outside  in  charge  of  a  guard. 
Whether  it  would  be  so  or  not,  the  sight  of  a  twenty-dollai 
gold  piece  relieved  his  mind  of  any  doubt  on  the  subject. 
Handing  it  to  him,  he  called  a  soldier  and  said  : 

"  Take  this  man  out,  and  walk  him  around  awhile." 

I  went  to  the  hotel,  treated  my  escort,  and  then  went  witfc 
him  to  take  a  general  survey  of  all  the  troops  in  the  immedi 
ate  vicinity  of  Manassas  Junction.  One  of  my  instructions 
from  General  Scott,  and  not  least  in  importance,  was  to  ascer 
tain  the  numbers  of  the  famous,  and  by  the  Union  army 
much  dreaded,  black-horse  cavalry.  In  conversation  with 
my  half- drunken  guard,  I  referred  to  this  .cavalry,  and  in 
quired  where  they  were. 

He  replied,  "Down  on  the  railroad." 

I  expressed  a  wish  to  see  them. 

He  said,  "  Certainly — them's  the  boys  to  whip  the 
Yankees!" 

We  went  down  the  line  of  the  railroad  half  a  mile,  and 
there  found  the  cavalry  in  camp.  I  asked  him  how  manv 
men  there  were  in  that  command. 

He  said,  u  Two  hundred." 

I  made  a  thorough  inspection  of  these  troops.  My  accom 
modating  guard  then  took  me  to  all  the  camps,  pointed  out 
the  different  intrenchments  in  course  of  erection,  the  names 
of  the  several  regiments  and  brigades,  who  commanded  them, 
their  strength,  &c.  When  I  had  obtained  this  information,  my 
guard  met  drunken  friends,  and  left  me  to  go  where  I  pleased. 
Fearing  i  should  be  missed,  I  immediately  returned  to  the 
guard-house.  I  was  not  locked  up,  but  allowed  to  remain  in 
the  stockade,  where  I  met  two  fellow-prisoners,  as  I  then  sup 
posed,  who  at  once  began  asking  me  questions.  It  did  not 
take  me  long,  however,  to  decide  that  they  were  decoysf 
placed  there  for  the  purpose  of  eliciting  from  me,  if  possible. 
my  real  character.  They  complained  bitterly  of  their  treat 
ment,  and  one  even  requested  me  to  take  a  letter  to  his  wife 
in  Washington. 

I  consented  to  take  the  letter.     It  was  written  in  a  way  well 


THE  COLPORTEUR.  55 

calculated  to  mislead  me.  I  went  to  the  guard-house,  called 
the  lieutenant  on  guard,  and  said  :  "  You  have  a  spy  in  the 
stockade  " — handing  him  the  letter.  He  said,  kk  1  will  send  it 
up  to  headquarters."  A  few  minutes  later  I  saw  the  same 
man  in  private  confidential  conversation  with  the  lieutenant, 
at  the  same  time  pointing  to  me  across  the  yard. 

This  satisfied  me  of  the  truth  of  my  suspicions.  Repeated 
efforts  were  afterward  made,  during  my  stay  in  the  stockade,  to 
ascertain  who  I  was,  and  my  intentions.  To  all  inquiries, 
however,  I  had  but  one  answer,  and  that  was  :  "  That  they 
had  made  a  great  mistake  in  arresting  me.' '  My  next  ques 
tioner  was  a  woman,  assuming  the  calling  of  a  colporteur,  or 
tract  distributer.  I  was  standing  by  the  pump — she  ap 
proached  me  and  said : 

"  Sir,  will  you  read  one  of  my  tracts?" 

"  Certainly,  thank  you,  madam." 

Handing  me  two  or  three  tracts,  she  remarked,  "  This  war 
is  a  terrible  thing.  How  long  have  you  been  here  1" 

"  Came  here  this  morning." 

She  said — ' '  Read  those  tracts,  and  then  give  them  to  your 
fellow-prisoners. ' ' 

"  What  are  you  here  for  ?" 

"  I  do  not  know,  madam,  but  hope  nothing  very  seri 
ous." 

"  Do  you  live  in  the  South  3" 

' '  No,  I  am  from  the  North — was  arrested  yesterday  down 
on  the  river." 

"Oh,  you  are  from  the  other  side,  are  you — from  Wash 
ington  V ' 

"Yes,  I  left  there  three  days  ago." 

"Are  you  going  back  1" 

"Well,  that  depends  upon  General  Beauregard." 

"  Oh !  he  is  a  very  kind  man,  and  certainly  would  not 
keep  you  here  a  moment  without  some  good  reason.  Were 
you  born  in  the  North  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  I  am  a  Yankee." 

"  Is  the  North  really  going  to  fight  the  South  1" 

"I  think  it  will." 

She  then  left  me,  to  continue  her  mission,  distributing 
tracts  to  the  prisoners  and  guards.- 


56  UNITED  STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

Returning  soon  afterward,  she  said  in  a  low  tone  of  voice, 
"]  am  trying  to  do  all  the  good  I  can.  Are  you  a  Chris 
tian?" 

I  answered,  "  I  thought  I  was  once,  but  now  have  very 
serious  doubts  on  the  subject." 

She  then  added  :  "  The  lieutenant  thinks  you  are  a  spy  : 
if  you  are,  be  very  careful  what  you  say.  I  was  born  at  the 
North,  but  have  lived  among  these  people  seven  years.  My 
sympathies  are  all  with  the  Northern  people.  I  am  trying 
now  to  get  a  pass  from  General  Beauregard,  that  I  may  visit 
my  sister  in  NeAV  York,  who  is  a  teacher  in  one  of  the  public 
schools.  I  will  gladly  take  any  message  you  may  want  to 
send  to  your  friends.  I  think  I  shall  get  my  pass  to-mor 
row." 

The  only  reply  I  made  was,  "I  think  I  shall  see  my 
friends  before  you  do." 

With  this  she  shook  my  hand  cordially,  and  left  me. 
Two  years  and  a  half  later,  I  met  my  tract  friend,  who  was 
the  famous  "  Belle  Boyd,"  under  very  different  circumstances, 
which  will  be  recorded  in  the  order  of  their  occurrence. 

At  eleven  o'clock  that  night,  the  sergeant,  with  four 
men,  came  to  the  guard-house,  and  took  me  to  General  Beau- 
regard'  s  headquarters,  where  I  again  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
attentive  colporteur.  After  waiting  in  silence  a  brief  time, 
the  sergeant  ordered  me  to  follow  him. 

"  Where  am  I  going  I"  I  asked. 

"  To  Richmond.     Fall  in,  men." 

I  was  at  once  marched  to  the  depot,  and  put  into  a  freight 
car  which  had  been  used  for  the  conveyance  of  troops,  hav 
ing  the  sides  knocked  oft'  near  the  top,  and  started  oft'  at  hal  f- 
past  one  o'clock,  p.  M.  The  train  moved  very  slowly,  and 
Gordonsville  was  not  reached  until  the  next  night.  This 
otherwise  irksome  delay  afforded  me  an  excellent  oppor 
tunity  to  observe  the  number  of  troops  moving  toward  Ma- 
nassas. 

At  Gordonsville,  I  was  turned  over  to  another  guard,  put 
into  a  passenger  car,  and  entered  Richmond  at  eight  o'clock 
the  succeeding  evening. 

The  tidings  of  my  capture  had  gone  before,  and  the  value 
of  it  to  the  Confederacy  discussed  and  of  course  magnified, 


500C 

SPIES.   • 

rf 


TIGERS 

!°ecruits 


m  RICHMOND.  57 

as  was  everything  by  distance,  on  both  sides,  at  that  early 
period  of  the  war. 

Instead  of  giving  me  a  cell  in  Libby  prison,  I  was  con 
veyed  to  the  third  story  of  an  engine-house,  an  open,  airy 
loft,  with  a  clean  bed,  and  in  all  respects  more  comfortable 
quarters  than  I  anticipated.  A  guard  of  two  soldiers  were 
my  keepers. 

I  retired  to  rest,  and  reflected  on  the  course  to  be  followed 
from  this  crisis  in  the  enterprise.  I  was  in  the  rebel  capital, 
must  survey  its  military  resources,  and  get  back  to  Wash 
ington,  or  die  as  a  spy. 


CHAPTER    II. 

RESIDENCE  IN  RICHMOND. 

Summoned  to  an  interview  with  Jeff.  Davis-  Subsequent  Examinations  by  him— 
Critical  Emergencies — Mr.  Brock — "  Samuel  Munsoii" — Confidence  secured — Mr 
"  Munson"  is  appointed  Confederate  Agent — Original  Letters  from  Davis,  Toombs, 
and  Walker — Starts  for  the  North — Unpleasant  Delays — A  Narrow  Escape— 
Reaches  the  Potomac — Deceives  the  Dutch  Fishermen  and  runs  the  Rebel  Gaunt  • 
let  safely. 

ON  the  fourth  or  fifth  day  of  my  confinement,  a  commis 
sioned  officer,  attended  by  a  guard,  entered  the  apartment 
and  said  the  President  wished  to  see  me.  I  obeyed  the  sum 
mons,  and  after  reaching  his  room  waited  nearly  two  hours 
before  I  was  presented  to  Mr.  Davis  with  the  simple  expres 
sion,  "This  is  the  man,  sir!"  The  room  occupied  by  him 
in  the  Spottswood  House  was  a  front  parlor  connecting  with 
a  bedroom.  The  weather  was  warm,  and  he  wore  simply  a 
light  linen  coat,  without  vest,  collar,  or  cravat.  He  then  said, 
"  You  have  been  sent  here  from  Manassas  as  a  spy  !  Avhat 
have  you  to  say?"  I  related  the  circumstances  of  my 
capture,  complaining  bitterly  of  my  treatment,  to  which  he 
listened  with  perfect  indifference.  He  then  asked  substan 
tially  the  same  questions  Beauregard  had  proposed,  and 
which  were  answered  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the  words  used 
during  the  interview  with  him.  I  was  taken  back  to  the 
engine-loft,  and  at  the  expiration  of  three  days  was  once 
more  escorted  to  the  executive  apartment.  The  Confed 
erate  President  was  out,  engaged  in  the  inspection  of  troops 
who  had  just  arrived  from  the  South,  and  I  returned  to  my 
quarters  without  an  interview.  At  the  expiration  of  a  week. 
I  was  ordered  for  the  third  time  into  the  presence  of  Jeffer 
son  Davis.  The  following  inquiries  were  made  by  him  : 

"  How  many  troops  do  you  suppose  there  are  in  Washing 
ton  and  its  vicinity  1" 


CONVERSATION    WITH  JEFF.  DAVIS.  61 

I  answered,  "  I  have  no  means  of  knowing;  probably 
75,000  or  100,000,  with  more  daily  arriving." 

"Who  commands  the  Yankee  troops  ?" 

"I  suppose,  General  Scott." 

"Where  are  his  headquarters?'' 

"In  Washington." 

"  Then  he  is  not  with  the  troops  ?" 

"  No  ;  General  McDowell  is  in  immediate  command." 

I  was  then  marched  back  to  my  prison-chamber. 

At  the  next  interview  the  arch-traitor  determined  to  make 
a  thorough  and  satisfactory  examination  of  his  prisoner. 

He  began  :  "  What  is  your  name,  sir  ?" 

"  Samuel  Munson." 

"  Where  were  you  born  ?" 

"  In  Knoxville,  Tennessee." 

"  What  is  your  business  here  ?" 

"  The  settlement  of  certain  land-claims  in  California  for  a 
man  whose  agent  I  am." 

"  Who  is  the  man  ?" 

"Rev.  Mr.  S ,  of  Barn  well  Court-House;  now  I 

believe  a  chaplain  in  the  army." 

Having  brought  with  me  from  the  Pacific  Coast  land-claims 
in  behalf  of  a  minister,  who  returned  to  Barnwell  Court- 
House,  his  former  place  of  residence,  and  whose  name  as 
chaplain  was  on  the  Army  Roll,  my  statement  had  certainly 
an  air  of  plausibility. 

"  How  long  have  you  resided  North  ?" 

"  I  have  been  in  California  eight  years." 

"  When  did  you  leave  California  ?" 

"  On  the  first  day  of  January,  1861."  - 

4 '  Were  you  in  Washington  ?' ' 

"  I  was." 

"  Did  you  come  directly  here  from  Washington  t" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Were  there  many  troops  in  Washington?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  a  great  many." 

"How  many?" 

"  It  is  impossible  to  say,  as  they  were  constantly  arriving 
and  departing." 

"  Where  were  they  concentrating  ?" 


62          UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

I 

"In  Virginia,  opposite  Washington." 

"  Throwing  up  fortifications,  are  they  ?" 

"Yes,  sir;  I  believe  so." 

"  Are  they  fortifying  Arlington  Heights  ?" 

"I  do  not  know." 

"  Or  in  the  vicinity  of  Long  Bridge  ?" 

"  I  do  not  knew." 

"Are  they  fortifying  about  Alexandria ?" 

"  I  can  not  say,  I  have  not  been  there." 

"  Can  you  tell  me  the  names  of  any  of  the  regiments  now 
in  Washington?" 

I  mentioned  the  names  of  a  few  of  which  he  could  not  have 
failed  to  know  something  through  the  press  and  rumors 
afloat. 

He  continued,  "Where  is  General  Scott?" 

"  I  do  not  know.     He  is  said  to  be  in  Washington.' 

"Do  you  consider  yourself  a  Southern  man  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,  I  do." 

"Do  you  sympathize  with  the  Southern  people?" 

"I  do." 

"Are  you  willing  to  fight  with  them  ?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Will  you  enlist?" 

"No,  sir." 

"Why  not?" 

"Because  I  am  here  on  business  which  I  ought  first  to 
accomplish." 

The  guard  was  summoned  to  take  "Mr.  Munson"  to  his 
prison  again.  Before  leaving,  I  stepped  forward  to  a  table 
on  which  stood  a  pitcher  of  ice-water,  and,  turning  to  the 
rebel  chief,  said : 

"  Will  you  allow  me  to  take  a  drink  of  ice- water  ?  I  get 
none  where  I  am." 

"Certainly,"  he  replied. 

I  was  soon  in  my  upper  room  reflecting  upon  the  diffi 
culties  in  my  way,  and  the  probability  that  they  would  yet 
thwart  my  plans,  and  leave  me  undisguised  at  the  mercy  of 
exasperated  enemies. 

Three  additional  days  of  monotonous  life  in  my  loft  were 
passed,  when  I  was  summoned  once  more  into  the  presence 


ANOTHER  EXAMINATION.  63 

of  Davis.  He  sat  by  his  table  writing,  with  his  back  toward 
the  door,  while  nearly  opposite,  reclining  upon  a  lounge 
half  asleep,  and  looking  much  like  a  man  who  had  imbibed 
strong  drink  too  freely,  was  Robert  Toombs.  He  roused  him 
self  as  I  entered,  to  listen  to  my  examination  by  the  Presi 
dent,  who,  laying  down  his  pen,  turned  to  me  and  said  : 

"  Have  you  any  other  way  of  proving  that  your  name  is 
Munson,  excepting  the  letters  found  in  your  pocket  ?" 

"I  am  not  acquainted  here,  sir,  and  do  not  know  any 
one." 

Davis  resumed  his  writing  for  a  few  moments,  then  said : 

"  Do  you  know  how  far  they  are  running  the  cars  on  tha 
Alexandria  and  Orange  Railroad  ?" 

"  I  don't  know.     I  have  not  been  on  that  side." 

"  Do  you  know  whether  they  are  running  the  cars  on  the 
Lees  burg  road  ?" 

"I  do  not." 

"  How  many  Yankee  troops  do  you  think  there  are  in  the 
vicinity  of  Washington  ?" 

"I  have  heard  that  there  are  one  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand,  but  have  no  means  of  knowing  whether  it  is 
true." 

"  I  suppose  you  know  who  commands  them  ?" 

"  I  believe  General  McDowell  does." 

"  You  say  you  are  originally  from  Knoxville.  Can  you 
give  me  the  name  of  any  persons  whom  you  know  there  ?" 

"It  has  been  a  good  many  years  since  I  lived  in  Knox- 
ville,  but  I  remember  some  persons  who  were  there  when  I 
left." 

I  gave  the  names  of  several  men  whom  I  knew  resided 
in  that  city. 

"Would  they  know  you ?" 

"  I  think  so,  though  a  residence  of  eight  years  in  Califor 
nia  has,  no  doubt,  changed  me  very  much.  If  I  should  see 
them,  I  think  I  could  make  them  remember  me." 

I  had  taken  the  name  of  Munson,  because  I  had  learned 
that  several  families  of  that  name  belonged  in  Knoxville,  and 
the  son  of  a  Judge  Munson  had  been  in  California,  whom  I 
could  represent. 

Davis  rang  a  bell,  a  messenger  appeared,  and,  taking  a 


64  UNITED   STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

name,  left  the  room.  I  suspected  at  once  his  errand.  He 
was  dispatched  for  somebody  from  Knoxville,  to  identify 
me,  if  my  story  were  true.  The  crisis  in  my  affairs  had 
come.  I  concluded  the  game  was  up,  and  my  vocation  gone. 
It  was  a  moment  of  great  anxiety,  and  my  thoughts  were  in 
tensely  active  with  the  possibilities  of  escape  from  the  snare 
in  which  I  seemed  to  be  caught.  Davis  continued  writing, 
and  Toombs  closed  his  eyes.  The  messenger  left  the  door 
ajar,  and,  unobserved,  I  drew  my  chair  nearly  in  front  of  it, 
to  gain  a  view  of  the  outer  hall.  In  it,  on  a  small  table,  were 
blank  cards  on  which  those  who  called  to  see  the  Confed 
erate  President  wrote  their  names,  and  sent  them  by  an  or 
derly,  before  they  were  admitted  to  an  audience  with  him. 

Soon  the  messenger  with  a  stranger  entered  the  hall. 
The  latter  wrote  his  name,  and  handed  it  to  the  orderly,  who 
came  in  where  I  was  sitting.  I  raised  my  hand  to  take  the 
card,  and  he  stopped  to  give  it  to  me,  when  I  glanced  at  the 
name,  and  made  a  motion  to  have  it  laid  on  Davis' s  table. 
The  rebel  Executive  did  not  observe  this,  and  Tombs  was 
apparently  asleep.  The  orderly  put  the  card  before  him, 
was  directed  to  admit  the  visitor,  and  retired.  The  Knox 
ville  man  came  in,  and,  turning  toward  him  with  a  look  of 
sudden  recognition,  I  rose,  grasped  his  hand,  and  exclaimed : 

"Why,  how  do  you  do,  Brock?" 

Toombs  raised  himself  up  and  nodded  to  Davis,  who  said : 

"  Be  seated,  sir.     Do  you  know  this  man  ?" 

Brock  was  taken  by  surprise,  but,  not  to  appear  ignorant 
before  the  President,  replied  : 

"  Yes,  I  know  him,  but  I  can't  call  his  name  now." 

"My  name  is  Munson,  of  Knoxville.     Don't  you  remem 
her  Judge  Munson' s  son  who  went  to  California?" 

"What,  Sam  Munson?" 

"That's  my  name." 

"Oh  yes,"  said  Brock,  turning  to  Davis,  "now  I  remem 
ber  him.  Yes,  I  know  him  very  well." 

"Do  you  know  his  people  there  ?"  asked  Davis. 

"I  know  his  father,  Judge  Munson,  very  well." 

Toombs  stood  up  and  said,  kt  That  will  do,  sir,  that  will 
do,"  and  Brock  walked  out  of  the  room. 

Toombs  then  drew  a  chai  r  close  to  Davis,  and  they  con- 


A    SINCJULAK    SORPRISE.  (Jo 

versed  in  whispers  for  a  few  moments,  wli^n  the  guard 
escorted  me  to  my  quarters.  I  fancied  that  I  had  made  some 
progress  at  this  interview. 

The  next  morning  brought  Mr.  Brock  to  my  loft,  evidently 
sent  to  satisfy  himself  fully  that  I  Avas  Sam  Munson.  A  deli 
cate  and  difficult  task  was  before  me,  and  the  result  to  my 
own  mind  very  doubtful.  Brock,  however,  was  talkative, 
willing  to  carry  on  the  conversation,  and  evidently  quite  sure 
that  he  was  not  mistaken  in  his  man.  I  knew  something  of 
the  Munsons,  and  localities  in  Knoxville,  and,  by  the  aid  of 
imagination,  could  h'll  any  pauses  in  Brock's  conversation; 
eight  years  of  absence  excusing  failures  in  memory.  Brock 
asked  leading  questions,  saying,  for  illustration,  "You  know 
so-and-so."  "Oh,  yes,"  I  responded,  though  I  had  not  the 
remotest  knowledge  of  the  person.  Then  Brock  would  refer 
to  something  very  ludicrous,  and  I  would  burst  into  laughter, 
as  though  at  the  recollection,  while  Brock,  greatly  enjoying 
it,  would  unconsciously  tell  the  whole  story,  so  that  I  could 
put  in  a  fitting  remark  here  and  thert,,  which  seemed  to  come 
naturally  from  recollection.  Brock  went  away  entirely  sat 
isfied,  and  reported  to  Jeff.  Davis.  Two  days  later,  a  com 
missioned  officer  entered  the  room  with  a  parole,  pledging 
myself  not  to  leave  the  city  of  Richmond  without  orders  from 
the  provost-marshal.  I  signed  it,  and  was  released  from  con 
finement.  With  the  freedom  of  the  city,  I  continued  my 
observations. 

Walking  through  a  street  one  Sunday  morning,  by  4 
high  board  fence  covered  with  posters  concerning  regiments 
being  organized  and  other  military  announcements,  from 
which  I  gleaned  additional  information,  a  man  came  up  and 
slapped  me  on  the  shoulder  with,— 

" Hallo,  Baker  !     What  are  you  doing  here?" 

The  name  sounding  strangely,  under  the  circumstances,  1 
was  startled,  but,  looking  around,  calmly  said  : 

"  I  guess  you  are  mistaken,  sir.     My  name  is  Munson." 

"  Ain't  your  name  Baker?" 

"No,  sir." 

"Didn't  you  go  to  California  in  1850?" 

"No,  sir.  I  have  lived  in  California,  but  I  did  not  go 
there  till '52." 


06  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

44  Why,  didn't  you  go  across  the  isthmus  with  me  in 
April,  1850,  when  we  had  the  light  with  the  natives  ?" 

"No,  sir.     I  guess  you  have  mistaken  the  man." 

"  Well,  I  would  have  sworn  that  you  were  Baker. 
Didn't  you  have  a  brother  there  !" 

"  I  had  a  brother  there,  but  he  came  home  in  '53." 

"Well,"  said  he,  turning  away,   "it's  all  right,  I  sup 
pose  ;  but  I  never  saw  two  men  look  so  much  alike  in  my 
life  !" 

In  the  mean  time  I  had  obtained  information  of  military 
movements  and  plans,  learned  where  the  enemy  had  stationed 
troops,  or  were  building  fortifications,  and  what  they  were 
doing  at  the  Tredegar  works.  I  had  obtained  the  knowledge 
for  which  I  came,  and  was  anxious  to  return  North. 
Through  the  influence  of  Hayes,  I  got  from  the  provost-mar 
shal,  a  pass  to  visit  Fredericksburg,  making  an  appointment 
to  meet  the  former,  which,  of  course,  I  did  not  keep.  Arri 
ving  in  Fredericksburg,  I  made  three  or  four  ineffectual  at 
tempts  to  get  into  the  country,  and  finally,  by  the  aid  of  a 
negro,  crossed  the  Rappahannock  one  morning  four  miles  be 
low  the  city.  To  reach  the  Potomac  would  tax  all  my  pow 
ers  to  the  utmost,  but  the  case  was  desperate  and  I  must  go 
forward.  As,  when  entering  upon  my  Southern  tour,  it  was 
indispensable  to  success  that  I  should  even  among  frielids  be 
incog.,  so  now  I  must  return  with  the  precious  epistles  in  my 
pocket,  through  the  Confederate  lines,  on  my  own  account, 
having  only  the  chances  of  escape  which  any  wanderer  at 
large  might  have. 

My  face  was  toward  Washington,  and  the  only  question 
remaining  was,  whether  the  success  in  the  attempt  to  reach  it 
would  equal  that  of  my  journey  to  Richmond. 

The  Potomac  was  the  goal  of  my  solitary  travel  through 
forest  and  over  open  fields  ;  'for  on  its  northern  banks  lay  the 
Union  Army,  and,  once  across  its  waters,  I  was  safe.  My 
appearance  was  that  of  a  common  citizen,  and  I  hoped  to 
pass  unnoticed  any  persons  with  whom  a  meeting  was  un 
avoidable.  Scarcely  two  miles  were  traveled,  when,  by  the 
side  of  woods  which  bordered  the  road,  an  officer  and  soldier 
on  horseback  appeared,  and  too  near  to  give  me  time  to  seek 
concealment  in  *he  forest. 


A   SLEEPY   GUARD.  67 

The  officer  reined  up  before  me,  and  inquired:  "Have 
you  got  a  pass,  sir:" 

uYes,  sir." 

"Let  me  see  it." 

With  the  promptness  of  assurance,  I  drew  forth  and 
handed  him  the  pass  from  Richmond  to  Fredericksburg. 
If  able  to  read,  I  hoped  he  might  be  satisfied  with  a  glance 
at  the  paper,  and  let  me  proceed.  He  studied  it  awhile,  till 
his  eye  caught  the  word  "  Fredericksburg  ;"  he  then  said : — 

"  I  don  t  think  this  will  do,  sir  !" 

"'Tisall  right." 

"  Well,  it  may  be,  but  you'll  have  to  go  back  with  me  to 
Fredericksburg.' ' 

My  locomotion  had  not  been  observed,  and,  with  a  pitiful 
limp,  I  remarked  that  it  was  hard  for  a  lame  man  to  be  com 
pelled  to  walk  that  distance ;  and  that,  if  I  attempted  it,  I 
must  necessarily  defer  my  journey  till  another  day.  I  made 
a  painful  effort  to  walk,  and  so  far  moved  the  compassion  of 
the  officer,  that  he  offered  to  take  the  pass  to  the  command 
ing  general,  and  leave  me  in  charge  of  the  soldier.  When 
he  was  gone,  after  a  little  pleasant  conversation,  the  day 
being  warm,  I  proposed  to  my  guard  that  we  go  into  the 
shade  of  the  woods.  Tying  his  horse  to  a  small  tree,  he 
threw  himself  down  on  the  grass.  Half  an  hour  was  spent 
in  pleasant  chat,  and  the  officer  did  not  make  his  appear 
ance. 

uUgh!"   said  the  guard  stretching,  "How  sleepy  I  am, 
I  didn't  sleep  a  wink  last  night." 

This  fact,  with  the  inviting  greensward  and  shade,  dis 
posed  him  to.  snatch  a  nap ;  and  soon  he  was  oblivious  to 
everything  around  him.  It  was  no  pleasure  to  me  to  subject 
him  to  punishment  or  even  censure  on  my  account ;  but  the 
law  of  self-protection  necessarily  overruled  my  regard  for 
the  unwatchful  guard,  and,  carefully  appropriating  his 
revolver,  I  unloosed  and  mounted  his  horse.  Riding 
leisurely  along  the  path  a  short  time,  I  turned  suddenly  into 
the  woods  ;  but  the  ground  was  rough,  and  the  bushes  almost 
impenetrable,  making  progress  distressingly  slow.  As  the 
sun  was  sinking  behind  the  trees,  having  traveled  half  a 
dozen  miles,  I  emerged  into  a  clearing,  where  a  white-haired 


68  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

old  man,  who  evidently  had  reached  his  threescore  years  and 
ten,  was  making  shingles. 

With  a  respectful  salutation,  I  inquired  : 

"  Will  you  tell  me  the  shortest  road  to  the  Potomac?" 

This  Southern  patriarch  looked  at  me  with  surprise.  1 
said  again  : 

"  The  river — the  Potomac  river — which  way  is  it  2" 

"  I  never  heard  of  it  in  my  life." 

"  How  long  have  you  lived  here  ?" 

" Always;  was  born  here." 

"  And  don't  know  where  the  Potomac  river  is  ?" 

' '  I  never  heard  about  such  a  river. ' ' 

He  was  equally  ignorant  of  the  existence  of  Aquia  Creek, 
01  any  of  the  streams  or  places  along  the  river. 

"  Did  you  know  that  the  South  had  seceded  ?"  I  inquired. 

"Well,  well!  I've  heard  suthing  was  going  on,  hut 
hain't  taken  much  interest  in  politics  no  how  since  Jackson's 
time.  >}><>se  they  are  all  the  time  getting  up  suthing  new.' 

With  a  cup  of  water  from  the  unsuspecting  Jacksoman 
democrat,  who  was  enjoying  Cowper's  lodge  in  the  wilder 
ness,  undisturbed  by  the  alarms  of  war,  I  rode  away,  to  try 
the  next  turn  in  the  wheel  of  fortune.  At  length  a  house 
was  visible  in  the  distance,  and  toward  it  I  directed  my 
course. 

Dismounting  near  it,  I  hitched  my  horse,  and  commenced 
observations.     Two  negroes  only  were  in  sight,  in  an  out 
house.     I  went  to  them  with  a  plausible  story,  and  for  ten 
cents  obtained  some  bread  and  milk,  which  broke  the  day's 
fast,  with  refreshment  for  the  night's  adventure  before  me. 
Darkness  was  setting  upon  the  forest,  and,  unable  to  discern 
vhe  mire  and  stones  ahead,  I  became  entangled  among  the 
branches,  and  found  I  must  abandon  my  horse,  and  plunge 
.nto  the  thicket  alone.     After  wandering  about  bewildered 
"or  an  hour,  I  unconsciously  returned  to  the  very  house  1 
lad  left.     I  decided   to   risk  a  rest  here  till  morning,   and 
working  my  body  feet  foremost  under  a  haystack,  until  com- 
)letely  hidden,   fell  into  a  sound  sleep.      Just  before   the 
lawn  of  the  next  day,  I  was  startled  from  slumber,  and,  lis- 
ening,  soon  learned  that  rebel  cavalry  were  in  search  of  me, 
*nd  had  surrounded  the  house.    A  dozen  horsemen  could  be 


A   BRIGHT   IRISHMAN.  GO 

e/een  through  the  lattice-work  of  hay,  moving  about  in  the 
darkness.  From  the  dwelling  they  went  to  the  outhouses, 
and  finally  came  to  the  haystack.  I  prepared  for  the  worst. 
With  my  head  thinly  covered,  I  could  watch  my  foes,  unseen 
by  them  ;  while  my  revolver  lay  before  me.  If  discovered, 
I  resolved  to  shoot  the  successful  man,  and  run  for  dear  life 
toward  the  woods.  Several  times  the  cavalry  rode  around 
the  stack ;  then  one  of  the  number,  dismounting,  began  a 
sword  examination  of  my  lodgings.  I  could  hear  the  thrust 
of  the  blade  into  the  hay,  until  it  grazed  my  coat,  and  I 
grasped  my  six-shooter  to  spring  ;  but  he  passed  on,  saying : 

"He  ain't  in  there,  boys." 

Remounting,  with  his  comrades,  he  rode  off. 

Watching  them  till  out  of  sight,  I  crept  cautiously  into 
the  deepening  light,  and  started  for  the  woods.  The  sun 
rose  gloriously  over  the  near  horizon  ;  but  whether  to  light 
me  toward  safety  or  capture,  was  entirely  uncertain. 

Without  breakfast  or  dinner,  I  hastened  on,  having  not 
even  a  glimpse  of  a  human  being,  and  avoiding  every  indica 
tion  of  his  habitation.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
when  emerging  from  a  clump  of  hushes,  I  came  in  full  view 
of  a  man  hauling  timber.  I  could  not  retreat,  and,  changing 
the  coat  hanging  on  one  arm  to  the  other,  I  put  my  hand  on 
my  pocket,  and  stood  in  thinking  posture.  I  saw  that  I  had 
an  Irishman  to  deal  with,  and  not  a  remarkably  bright  speci- 
man  of  his  race. 

With  the  air  of  one  interested,  I  asked  : 

"  What  is  this  timber  for  3" 

"It's  fur  the  batthery  down  here,  in  course." 

This  answer  settled  the  question  of  the  proximity  of  the 
Potomac,  and  also  apprised  me  that  fortifications  and  plenty 
of  rebels  were  not  far  oft'.  I  walked  along  a  stick  of  timber, 
measuring  it  by  paces,  and  then  said  : 

"  Tell  these  men  they  are  getting  this  timber  four  feet  too 
short,  will  you?" 

"  Yes,  sur,  I  will  sur.     It's  only  haulm,  I  am,  meself." 

"  Well,"  I  replied,  leaving  him,  "tell  them  to  cut  it  four 
feet  longer,  will  you  ?  Tell  them  I  say  so." 

"I  will,  sur." 

Into  the  woods  again,  and,  making  as  good  time  as  DOS- 


70  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

sible,  I  walked  on  two  hours  longer.  Hunger  began  to 
gnaw,  and  create  that  desperation  which  disregards  the  cooler 
prudence  of  a  full  stomach.  Striking  a  small  creek  or  bayou, 
running  into  the  Potomac,  I  resolved  to  follow  it  till  it  de 
cided  my  fortunes  for  the  night.  No  sign  of  anything  in 
reach  to  appease  hunger  appeared,  nor  of  a  boat  in  which 
to  get  across  the  river.  The  very  first  sight  of  human 
existence  was  in  a  form  to  excite  fear — a  white  tent,  snugly 
pitched  on  the  sloping  point  of  a  hill,  by  the  water-side,  and 
surrounded  with  bushes-  I  paused  to  watch  for  further  in 
timations  of  what  was  there. 

At  length  a  soldier  came  up  the  bank  with  fish,  and  en 
tered  the  tent.  Soon  after,  with  another  man,  he  reappeared 
outside,  and  they  sat  down,  lighted  their  pipes,  and  chatted, 
after  the  fashion  of  good-natured  Dutchmen.  The  imperious 
demands  of  hunger  urged  me  to  join  them,  and,  advancing, 
I  accosted  them.  It  turned  out  that  they  belonged  to  a  bat 
tery  on  the  hill  above,  and  had  moved  to  the  bank  to  catch 
fish  for  the  officers.  I  told  them  I  lived  up  the  creek,  and 
had  come  down  to  see  how  things  were  getting  on  ;  then  in 
quired  : 

"  Have  you  got  anything  to  eat  in  the  tent  ?" 

"  We  got  not  much  here  to  eat." 

"Boys,  I  am  very  hungry.  I  hain't  had  anything  to  eat 
since  I  came  from  home,  and  I'll  pay  you  for  something." 

"  Veil,  dat  ish  tifferent  matter.  If  you  pays,  dat  ish  tif- 
ferent  matter." 

u  Can't  you  cook  some  fish  ?" 

**  Oh,  ersh,  I  spose  we  get  you  some  fish." 

In  a  few  minutes  they  set  before  me  a  supper  simply  of 
fish,  cooked  in  their  primitive  style,  and  yet  no  luxury  was 
ever  so  grateful  to  the  taste.  After  it  was  finished,  I  asked 
for  a  pipe,  and  began  to  puff  aAvay,  entirely  at  home  ;  but 
all  the  while  revolving  in  my  mind  the  chances  and  expedi 
ents  for  a  final  parting  with  my  Dutch  friends.  Finally,  my 
eye  fell  upon  a  small  boat  lying  in  the  bushes  below ;  and 
the  conviction  followed  the  discovery,  that  it  was  my  only 
hope  of  crossing  the  Potomac.  Learning  that  the  fishermen 
wned  it,  I  said  to  them  : 

"  I  want  to  buy  that  boat.     What  will  you  take  for  it  ?" 


A   NIGHT   OF    DIFFICULTIES.  71 

"I  no  sells  dat  poat,"  replied  one. 

"  I'll  give  you  twenty  dollars  for  it,  in  goJd." 

"  It's  worth  more  as  that  to  us.  The  Yankees  ish  break 
ing  up  all  poats  on  the  Potomac." 

There  was  an  end  to  the  prospect  of  a  purchase  ;  and  a 
new  plan  must  be  devised.  The  sun  sank  behind  the  trees, 
and  in  the  pleasant  shade  we  smoked  and  talked  away  the 
hours.  I  found,  in  the  course  of  conversation,  that  the  battery 
was  not  over  tw^o  hundred  yards  from  us,  and  the  Potomac  a 
few  rods  below. 

The  evening  advanced,  and  I  begged  'the  privilege  of 
sleeping  in  the  tent,  as  I  was  too  tired  to  think  of  returning 
home  before  morning.  Permission  was  reluctantly  granted  ; 
and,  spreading  their  blanket,  they  "  turned  in,"  while  I  con 
tinued  without,  smoking,  till  the  moon  rose.  I  had  practical 
business  on  hand,  which  excluded  contemplation  of  the 
romantic  scene — the  silver  light  tipping  and  then  Hooding  the 
hills,  and  creeping  down  to  the  quiet  spot  of  anxious  wake- 
fulness.  For  the  illumination  was  10  aid  me  in  my  design  to 
escape.  I  could  now  watch  the  movements  of  my  compan 
ions  in  the  tent  sufficiently  to  see  when  they  were  apparently 
asleep,  depending  on  the  ear  for  the  further  evidence  of  the 
desirable  fact.  When  all  was  still,  indicating  profound 
slumber,  suddenly  a  change  of  position,  a  grunt,  and  a  look 
outside,  would  dispel  the  illusion. 

Toward  midnight,  I  heard  a  shout : 

"  Hello,  there  !  you  come  to  ped  to-night  ?" 

"Yes,  I  am  coming  in." 

Soon  after  entering  the  tent,  I  found  that  room  for  me  had 
been  left  between  the  men,  and  the  effort  to  get  on  an  outei 
edge  of  the  blanket  was  fruitless. 

A  suspicion  evidently  crossed  the  mind  of  the  one  who 
had  just  spoken  to  me,  respecting  the  stranger,  and  there  waa 
a  design  to  guard  against  any  unpleasant  results  from  the 
visit. 

The  day's  fatigue  made  my  own  inclination  to  sleep  al 
most  irresistible  ;  but  I  watched  anxiously  for  the  favoring 
moment  to  leave  the  bed  unobserved.  Repeated  trials  found 
the  distrustful  soldier  sufficiently  wakeful  to  look  after  hia 
guest.  Overcome  by  the  slumberous  influences  of  fatigue. 


72  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

my  comfortable  quarters,  and  the  "stilly  night,'1  I  sank  into 
a  restless  repose.     Scarcely  an  hour  had  passed,  when  I  sud 
denly  awoke,   starting  with  alarm  lest   the   opportunity  to 
escape  was  lost.      On  the  contrary,  I  found  my  companions 
were  thoroughly  asleep,  their  loud  breathing  the  only  sign 
of  life.     I  carefully  crawled  from  between  them,  till  half  my 
body  was  out  of  the  tent.    The  suspicious  man,  with  a  sound 
of  unrest,  turned  over.      I  remained  perfectly  still  till  he 
made  another  turn  and  stretched  out  his  arm  to  see  if  all  was 
right  in  the  middle.      I  drew  back  to  my  old  place,  and.  he 
laid  his  hand  upon  me  several  times,  before  he  seemed  satis- 
lied  that  I  was  there.    Several  attempts  to  leave  the  tent 
ended  in  a  similar  failure.     Daylight  began  to  steal  into  the 
tent,  and  the  night  of  suspense  must  end  in  some  decisive 
effort  to  secure  the  boat  and  cross  the  Potomac.    The  soldier- 
h'shermen  were  sleeping  quite  as  soundly  as  at  any  time 
before,  and  in  another  moment  I  stood  before  the  door  watcii- 
ing  the  effect  of  my  movement.      There  was  a  little  stir,  and 
I  stood  mechanically  poking  the  embers  of  our  evening  fire, 
as  if  looking  out  to  see  the  breaking  day  ;  but  with  my  pistol 
in  one  hand  ready  for  service.      Returning  it  to  my  pocket 
muzzle  down,  I  hastened  to  the  bank.     To  my  great  disap 
pointment,  there  were  no  oars  in  the  boat.      Upon  making 
search  among  the  willows,  I  found  a  short  one,  partially  de 
cayed.     Noiselessly  as  possible  I  launched  the  frail  bark, 
fearing  each  sound  on  the  sand  or  in  the  water  would  bring 
my  Dutch  friends  down  the  bank.    In  a  few  moments,  which 
suspense  made  oppressively  long,  I  floated  away  into  the 
stream,  at  this  point,  not  over  thirty  feet  in  width.      Taking 
1  the  middle  of  the  current,  I  pulled  off  my  coat,  and  began 
to  row  for  life.     The  tide  favored  me,  and  I  was  congratulat 
ing  myself  upon   the   prospect  of  an   unmolested  voyage 
when  a  shout  drew  my  attention  to  the  vigilant  Dutchman, 
whose    gesticulations    could    not    be    misunderstood.      He 
called  loudly  to  his  bedfellow  :    "  Meyer  !   Meyer  !  the  poat 
ish  gone  !  the  poat  ish  gone  !" 

He  seized  his  musket  and  made  for  the  bank,  not  more 
than  a  dozen  feet  from  me,  shouting  : 

"  Come  pack  here  !     Come  pack  mit  that  poat !" 

My  only  answer  was  a  more  vigorous  use  of  the  oar 


WITH  A  CRY  OF  DISTRESS,    HE  STAGGERED  AND  FELL. 


CROSSING   THE   POTOMAC.  73 

Placing  my  right  hand  upon  the  pistol,  and  watching  the 
eoldier,  I  propelled  the  boat  with  my  left. 

"Come  pack!"  he  continued,  following  me  along  the 
bank.  He  then  paused,  leveled  his  musket,  and  was  about 
to  fire.  I  did  not  want  to  kill  "  mine  host,"  but  the  law  of 
self- defense  again  demanded  a  sacrifice.  With  quick  and 
sudden  aim,  I  fired — with  a  cry  of  distress,  he  staggered  and 
fell  lifeless  beside  his  musket.  His  comrade  was  running 
down  the  hill,  when,  seeing  what  had  happened,  he  turned 
back  to  the  tent.  He  soon  returned  with  a  double-barreled 
shot  gun,  and  stole  along  cautiously,  through  the  bushes,  till 
within  forty  yards  of  the  boat,  and  then  fired.  The  shot  fell 
around  me,  in  the  water.  Catching  a  glimpse  of  my  enemy 
in  the  thicket,  I  discharged  my  revolver.  He  ran  away,  evi 
dently  unhurt.  The  reports  had  given  the  alarm,  and  several 
soldiers  soon  came  in  sight.  An  instant  later,  a  bullet 
whistled  over  my  shoulder.  I  had  reached  the  decisive  mo 
ments  of  my  last  effort  to  get  out  of  "  Dixie."  Again  getting 
sight  of  the  Dutchman  in  the  bushes,  I  once  more  took  de 
liberate  aim  and  fired.  He  threw  up  one  arm,  gave  a  yell, 
and  fell  to  the  ground.  In  a  moment  he  rose  again,  and, 
groaning,  staggered  away.  Then  two  or  three  shots  saluted 
me  unceremoniously,  striking  and  splintering  the  side  of  the 
boat.  I  was  now  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  and  rapidly  left 
the  shore  behind  me.  A  squad  of  soldiers,  by  this  time, 
stood  on  the  brow  and  at  the  base  of  the  hill,  firing  their 
muskets.  The  chug  of  the  bullets  in  the  water  reminded  me 
that  my  transit  to  loyal  soil  was  not  yet  certain.  Both  hands 
were  laid  to  the  oar,  and,  striking  the  broad  current  of  the 
Potomac,  which  was  here  four  miles  wide,  I  rapidly  receded 
from  musket  range.  A  high  wind  swept  the  waters,  and,  while 
rounding  a  bluff,  a  sudden  gust  carried  away  my  hat,  and 
lifted  my  coat  lying  in  the  bow  of  the  boat,  dropping  it  into 
the  river.  But  it  was  no  time  to  look  backward  to  those  ar 
ticles  of  apparel,  floating  between  me  and  my  foes,  whose 
bullets  still  came  unpleasantly  near.  Their  shots  continued 
until  they  fell  far  in  the  wake  of  my  boat.  The  sun  had 
risen  above  the  horizon,  warm  and  bright,  while,  for  two 
hours  and  a  half,  I  worked  with  a  single  oar,  and,  aided  by 
the  drifting-  tide,  approached  the  Maryland  shore.  With  an 


74  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

inexpressible  sense  of  relief,  I  heard  the  boat's  bow  touch 
the  sand.  I  was  near  Chapel  Point,  ten  miles  below  the 
creek  on  which  I  embarked,  and  so  exhausted,  that  with  dif 
ficulty  I  reached  the  bank.  On  its  green  carpet,  and  under 
the  cooling  shade  of  its  trees,  I  laid  down  to  rest,  leaving 
the  boat  to  which  I  owed  my  deliverance  to  the  winds  and 
waves  of  the  Potomac. 


CHAPTER    III. 

NORTHERN   EXPERIENCES  AS   CONFEDERATE   AGENT. 

Hospitalities  by  the  way — The  Report  to  General  Scott — Operations  in  Baltimore— 
The  Janus-faced  Unionist — A  rich  Development  hi  Philadelphia — The  Arrests- 
Amusing  Prison  Scene. 

REFRESHED  by  an  hour  of  rest  sufficiently  to  renew  my 
journey  toward  Washington,  I  soon  came  to  a  small  and 
poor  habitation,  in  whose  door  stood  a  coarse  and  dirty 
female.  I  asked  her  for  something  to  eat. 

"I  have  nothing  to  spare  :  can't  give  you  a  mouthful." 

Whether  meanness,  destitution,  or  my  dilapidated  ap 
pearance  were  the  exciting  cause  of  her  rudeness,  I  can  not 
tell.  But  to  my  plea  for  a  crust,  or  inquiries  where  I  might 
find  even  a  partial  supply  of  the  lost  apparel,  she  closed 
the  door  in  my  face.  I  wandered  on,  a  solitary  country  mock 
ing  my  hunger.  Toward  noon  a  noble  mansion,  surrounded 
by  a  large  plantation,  arrested  my  eye,  and  on  its  porch  an 
elderly  woman  sitting  alone  amid  the  rural  quiet.  Entering 
the  gate,  I  approached  her  with  a  morning  salutation.  She 
returned  it,  with  a  suspicious  glance  at  my  unusual  appear 
ance.  I  inquired : 

"  Can  I  get  a  drink  of  water  here,  madam  ?" 

"  Certainly,"  calling  a  colored  girl  to  bring  it. 

The  roar  of  the  cannon  at  Matthias  Point,  where  the 
rebels  were  practicing  with  the  battery,  could  be  distinctly 
heard.  I  said : 

"  We  are  getting  ready  for  the  Yankees  there  pretty  fast." 

"Yes." 

"They  won't  be  able  to  sail  up  and  down  the  river  much 
more.'' 

"  No,  that  they  won't." 

The  peculiar  animation  with  which  she  made  this  reply 


76  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

showed  me  that  I  had  not  mistaken  her  character.  While  I 
was  drinking,  she  inquired  from  what  place  I  had  come. 

I  told  her  from  Richmond,  to  see  what  the  Yankees  were 
doing,  and  report  to  Jeff.  Davis  and  Beauregard.  She  then 
inquired  how  I  lost  my  hat  and  coat.  I  told  her  they  were 
blown  off  while  crossing  the  river,  arid  that  1  had  just  left 
the  shore,  with  nothing  to  eat  since  the  night  "before. 

"Our  dinner  will  be  ready  soon,"  she  said,  "and  1  shall 
be  very  glad  to  have  you  stay  and  dine  with  us." 

The  invitation  was  accepted,  and  extra  preparation  made 
for  me.  An  excellent  meal,  many  inquiries  from  my  hostess 
concerning  the  progress  of  the  "holy  cause,"  and  predic 
tions  of  its  speedy  triumph  followed.  When  I  was  ready  to 
leave,  she  supplied  me  with  a  second-hand  hat  and  coat,  and, 
with  a  cordial  good-bye,  expressed  the  hope  that  I  should  be 
prospered  in  my  good  work,  and  do  much  for  the  independ 
ence  of  the  South. 

With  no  incidents  of  remarkable  interest,  I  passed 
through  the  counties  of  Maryland,  reaching  Washington 
after  an  absence  of  three  eventful  weeks. 

I  at  once  reported  to  General  Scott,  giving  him  all  the  in 
formation  desired  respecting  Manassas,  Fredericksburg,  and 
Richmond,  the  resources  and  plans  of  the  rebel  chiefs,  and 
the  blockade  running  of  the  Potomac. 

He  read,  with  a  smile,  the  letters  from  the  Confederate 
Government,  when  I  expressed  my  design  to  use  them  in 
tracking  northern  traitors  in  their  treasonable  alliance  with 
the  South.  Expressing  his  gratification,  he  recommended 
my  name  to  Mr.  Cameron  for  permanent  service  as  a  secret 
agent  of  the  War  Department. 

I  commenced,  without  delay,  ferreting  out  these  sympa 
thizers  with  secession.  Two  brothers  named  A.,  one  of  them 
within  the  rebel  lines,  were  engaged  in  supplying  munitions 
of  war  to  the  Confederacy. 

The  apparently  loyal  man  who  lived  in  Baltimore  had  a 
contract  to  furnish  the  regiment  of  Col. ,  then  on  the  Poto 
mac,  with  forage.  He  owned  a  small  vessel  on  the  river, 
whose  captain  shared  with  him  the  profits  of  their  secret 
treachery.  Filling  the  hold  with  small-arms,  ammunition, 
and  other  light  materiel  of  war,  they  were  covered  with  hay 


THE  VISIT  TO   BALTIMORE.  77 

and  oats  for  the  Union  troops.  Upon  reaching  Matthias 
Point,  the  captain  signaled  A.,  who  was  watching  for  him, 
and  the  contraband  goods  were  landed,  when  the  vessel  pro 
ceeded  to  Washington  with  its  light  freight  of  forage.  This 
shrewd  operation  had  been  carried  on  a  considerable  time, 
with  no  suspicion  attaching  to  the  Baltimore  brother  from 
his  loyal  neighbors,  of  the  illegitimate  traffic. 

I  proceeded  to  Barnum's  Hotel  in  Baltimore,  and  dis 
patched  a  note  to  A.,  informing  him  that  Mr.  Munson,  from 
Richmond,  would  like  to  see  him,  and  designating  a  time  for 
our  interview.  A.  promptly  called. 

He  entered  the  room,  when  the  following  conversation 
passed  between  us. 

"This  is  Mr.  A.,  I  presume." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  sir.     Take  a. seat." 

A.  sat  down. 

' '  Mr.  A. ,  I  am  a  man  of  very  few  words.  I  came  here 
on  business,  and  I  want  to  get  through  with  it  as  soon 
as  I  can  conveniently.  I  am  an  agent  of  the.  Confederate 
Government.  I  understand  that  you  are  willing  to  help  us, 
and  have  been  doing  so.  I  want  to  purchase  goods,  and  I 
have  the  gold  to  pay  for  them." 

A.,  who  was  a  short,  impulsive  man,  with  a  German  ac 
cent,  was  thrown  entirely  off  his  guard. 

"I'm  your  man.  I'm  just  the  person  you  ought  to  have 
come  to.  I  help  the  South,  and  I  make  a  little  money  out 
of  the  North.  I'll  show  you  how  easy  it  is." 

From  his  coat  pocket  he  drew  an  envelope,  containing 
two  contracts — one  of  them  to  send  goods  to  Kichmond,  and 
the  other  to  furnish  a  Union  regiment  with  certain  supplies. 
His  eye  twinkled  with  delight,  while  he  watehed  my  perusal 
of  the  documents.  The  delivery  of  the  goods  was  a  subject 
of  considerable  discussion,  and  A.  was  very  particular  in 
his  inquiries  about  the  pay.  I  replied  :— 

"Mr.  A.,  I  do  not  come  here  to  make  money  out  of  my 
government.  I  came  here  purely  from  patriotic  motives. 
While  I  am  willing  to  pay  you  a  fair  percentage  on  any 
^c<  >cis  you  may  buy,  and  a  liberal  allowance  for  your  services, 
I  uf  course  can  not  submit  to  any  extortion,  or  to  any  exor« 


78  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

bitant  charges.  I  am  working  for  the  interests  of  my  people. 
I,  myself,  do  not  want  to  make  a  cent  out  of  this  business." 

"That  is  all  right — it  is  honorable  and  patriotic.  But  it 
is  not  safe  to  buy  the  goods  here,  because  men  in  this  trade 
have  been  detected,  and  the  police  watch  us  all  the  time. 
We  can  do  better  in  Philadelphia,  where  I  have  friends  to 
help  us." 

We  agreed  to  start  in  the  4:20  train  the  same  afternoon  for 
Philadelphia.  While  standing  in  the  depot  waiting  for  the 
train,  talking  with  A.,  I  saw  Senator  McDougal,  whom  I  had 
known  in  California,  and  George  Wilkes,  coming  toward 
me.  I  tried  in  vain  to  avoid  their  recognition,  but  McDougal, 
taking  my  arm,  exclaimed : 

"Why,  how  d'ye  do,  Baker?" 

With  a  look  of  strange  surprise,  I  said : 

"You've  got  the  advantage  of  me,  sir.  I  don't  know 
you." 

"Well,  that's  a  good  joke,"  replied  McDougal,  laughing. 

"It  may  be,  but  I  don't  know  you,  sir.  My  name  is 
Munson." 

Suddenly  McDougal  seemed  to  fathom  the  mystery  suffi 
ciently  to  relieve  me  of  farther  embarrassment,  by  remark 
ing,  as  he  turned  away  : 

"Well,  upon  my  soul,  I  believe  I  am  mistaken.  Excuse 
me,  sir  ;  you  look  very  much  like  a  friend  of  mine."  The 
incident  made  but  slight  if  any  impression  upon  the  mind  of 
A.,  for  he  made  no  allusion  to  it  during  the  ride  to  Philadel 
phia. 

I  stopped  at  the  American  Hotel,  when  A.  left  me  to  find 
B.,  who  was  connected  with  a  large  hardware  house  in 
the  city,  and  bring  him  to  the  hotel.  Meanwhile,  by  a  cir 
cuitous  route,  I  reached  the  headquarters  of  the  police  and 
had  an  interview  with  Ben.  Franklin,  the  chief  of  the  depart 
ment.  Acquainting  him  thoroughly  with  the  business  in 
hand,  his  assistance  was  secured  to  make  the  arrests  at  the 
proper  time.  He  suggested  that  it  might  be  well  to  have 
the  conference  with  my  disloyal  friends.  To  this  I  assent 
ed,  and,  accompanying  me  to  the  hotel,  he  was  concealed 
under  the  bed.  Soon  after  A.  and  B.  entered — the  lalter  a 
tall,  gaunt,  shrewd,  and  taciturn  man.  A.  opened  the  con- 


FRANKLIN   UNDER  THE  BED.  7v 

versation,  and  talked  on,  while  B.  stroked  his  whiskers  and 
said  nothing.  I  repeated  the  assurance  that  my  object  was  to 
serve  the  South  and  not  speculation.  I  urged  the  risk  of 
delay  in  completing  my  arrangements,  as  a  reason  for  prompt 
action.  In  conclusion,  I  remarked  to  B.  :  "I  learn  from  Mr. 
A.  that  you  are  friendly  to  our  people  and  willing  to  assist 
us." 

"  Yes,  sir,  my  sympathies  are  with  the  South,  and  possi 
bly  I  may  be  able  to  aid  you." 

B.  desired  to  know  the  kind  of  goods  that  were  needed, 
and  repeated  the  assurance  that  Philadelphia  was  a  safer 
place  than  Baltimore  or  New  York  for  the  purchase  of  them. 
I  then  produced  my  letters,  which  B.  read  carefully  and 
with  evident  satisfaction  ;  but  preferred  to  defer  any  further 
negotiations  for  the  present.  As  he  rose  to  leave,  he  requested 
me  to  call  at  his  place  of  business  that  afternoon.  A.  re 
mained  and  suggested  another  gentleman,  who  would  be 
glad  to  take  hold  of  the  business — a  Mr.  C.,  of  Commerce 
Street.  I  gratefully  accepted  the  proposal,  and  we  left  the 
room,  releasing  Franklin  from  his '  close  confinement  under 
the  bed.  We  found  C.  in  his  office,  but  disinclined  to  talk. 
He  inquired  where  I  stopped,  and  I  returned  to  the  hotel. 
Shortly  after,  C.  made  his  appearance  and  commenced  con 
versation  in  a  very  confidential  way.  He  went  for  the  South, 
but  did  not  like  A.,  who,  he  affirmed,  was  simply  a  money- 
making  Jew.  I  told  him  I  knew  nothing  of  A.,  but  sup 
posed  him  to  be  a  reliable  friend  of  our  cause.  The  result 
of  the  interview  was  a  plan  to  keep  A.  interested  in  the 
transaction,  but  ignorant  of  its  most  important  particulars. 
In  the  afternoon  I  called  upon  Mr.  B.,  whose  confidence  was 
now  unreserved,  and  stated  to  him  my  conversation  with  C. 
He  then  said  : 

4 '  Now,  Mr.  Munson,  you  and  I  are  actuated  by  the  same 
motives  in  this  thing.  These  men,  A.  and  C.,  are  engaged  in 
it  simply  for  the  percentage  they  can  make.  I  think  you 
had  better  get  rid  of  them." 

I  replied,  that  this  could  not  well  be  done,  but  that  1 
might  withhold  any  further  information  than  was  absolutely 
necessary. 

The  conversation  closed  with  an  invitation  to  dine  with 


80  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

him  that  afternoon.  I  expressed  a  fear  that  it  would  give 
offense  to  A.,  if  I  should  go  alone. 

"Well,"  said  B.,  "You  had  better  bring  him  along." 

I  went  with  A.,  at  the  appointed  hour,  and  sat  down  to  a 
sumptuous  dinner.  Wine  Avas  abundant,  and  the  health  of 
Davis,  Beauregard,  and  other  leading  rebels  was  not  forgot 
ten.  B.  became  exhilarated,  and  his  secession  songs  were 
sung  so  loudly  that  we  were  obliged  to  hint  that  possibly  he 
might  be  heard  in  the  streets.  The  party  broke  up  at  a  late 
hour  in  line  spirits.  I  made  arrangements  with  one  of  the 
banks  by  which  I  would  appear  to  have  plenty  of  money  at 
my  command.  I  went  to  a  tinner's  and  had  several  canvas 
bags  full  of  pieces  of  zinc  cut  the  size  of  gold  coin,  and  these 
were  deposited  in  the  vaults.  I  began  to  make  my  purchases. 
I  bought  two  hundred  thousand  cannon-primers,  two  hun 
dred  Colt's  revolvers,  a  million  friction  caps,  and  other  simi 
lar  goods.  I  also  ascertained  that  these  parties  were  carry 
ing  on  systematically  contraband  trade  with  the  South. 
Franklin,  Chief  of  Police,  was  informed  of  my  operations, 
and  we  concluded  it  was  time  to  begin  making  arrests.  On 
a  subsequent  day,  having  an  invitation  to  dine  with  A.  at  the 
house  of  B.,  I  told  Franklin  to  watch  us  when  we  came 
away,  and  if,  when  we  were  opposite  the  City  Hall,  I  raised 
my  hand,  he  was  to  arrest  them — otherwise  to  make  no  de 
monstration.  As  we  stepped  from  the  house  into  a  street 
car,  Franklin  got  on  to  the  platform.  When  the  designated 
point  was  reached,  A.  got  off  first,  and  I  immediately  gave 
the  signal.  Franklin,  laying  his  hand  upon  A.'s  shoulder, 
said: 

"I  want  you,  sir." 

I  was  making  off  across  the  street,  when  Franklin 
Bhonted : 

"Here,  sir,  I  want  you,  too." 

I,  of  course,  returned,  looking  somewhat  alarmed. 

Said  Franklin : 

"Yon  will  have  to  come  with  me,  gentlemen,  I  have  a 
little  private  business  with  you." 

A.  and  myself  were  soon  in  the  station-house  together. 
Franklin,  turning  to  me,  remarked  : 

"I've  been  looking  after  you,  sir,  for  some  time.     Your 


TWO   ARRESTS.  81 

name  is  Munson,  isn't  it?  You  came  here  from  the  South  to 
buy  goods,  didn't  you?  You  were  very  bold  about  it;  a 
little  too  bold,  as  you  have  just  discovered.  I've  been 
looking  after  you,  too,  A.  You're  a  Baltimorean,  ain't  you  ? 
You  came  here  to  get  rebel  supplies,  too,  didn't  you?  I 
shall  have  to  search  you  both." 

We  were  searched,  and,  of  course,  the  two  contracts  to 
supply  both  the  rebel  and  Union  troops  were  found  in  A.' a 
possession. 

"  Take  this  man  to  the  Sixth  Precinct  station-house,  and 
lock  him  up  by  himself,"  said  Franklin  to  an  officer,  "and 
then  come  back  after  this  man,"  pointing  to  me. 

"  Now,  Ben,"  I  said,  when  A.  had  gone,  "  we  must  gob 
ble  up  those  other  two  men  the  best  way  we  can,  as  soon  as 
possible." 

"All  right,"  said  Franklin. 

I  had  an  appointment  to  meet  C.  the  next  morning,  to  ex 
amine  some  caps  which  he  had  received  from  New  York. 
When  we  met  according  to  this  arrangement,  C.  inquired 
for  A. 

1  replied  : 

"  He  got  a  dispatch  that  his  brother  was  in  Baltimore, 
and  he  has  gone  on  to  see  him.  He  will  be  back  to-mor 
row." 

The  caps  were  satisfactory,  but  C.  stated  that  he  must  go 
to  New  York,  to  get  some  telegraphic  material,  which  he 
was  to  furnish — some  small  wires  to  wind  the  battery,  and 
asked  me  if  I  could  not  advance  money. 

"  I  haven't  any  with  me  now,  but,  if  you  will  meet  me  at 
the  corner  of  Third  and  Market  Streets,  at  half-past  one,  J 
can  let  you  have  some,  and  you  will  be  in  time  then  to  get 
the  two  o'clock  train  for  New  York." 

I  left  and  went  to  Franklin's  office,  requesting  him  to  ar 
rest  us  when  we  met  on  the  corner.  C.  and  myself  arrived 
a  little  before  the  time,  and  1  made  some  preliminary  conver 
sation  on  that  account.  At  the  moment  lie  was  anticipating 
the  transfer  of  the  funds,  Franklin  came  up,  and  suspended 
operations  by  saying : 

"  I  am  the  chief  of  police  here,  and  I  want  you  two  gen 
Mem  en." 


£t9  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

C.  laughed,  and  said : 
"  I  guess  you  don't  know  who  I  am." 
"  Oh,  yes,  I  do,  and  I  know  this  other  man,  too.     He's  a 
blockade   runner,    from   Richmond,    arid  you're   not  much 
better." 

We  went  to  a  station-house,  and  Franklin  apparently 
searched  me,  while  another  officer  attended  to  C.  lie  was 
then  taken  to  the  Sixth  Precinct  station-house,  and  locked  in 
a  C2ll  by  himself. 

B.  only  remained  to  be  arrested.  But  he  was  the  most 
important  one  of  the  number,  and  Marshal  Milwood,  of  that 
district,  was  to  assist  in  his  arrest.  I  called  on  Mr.  B. ,  who 
said : 

"  I  think  we  have  both  got  about  tired  of  A.  and  C.,  and 
I  think  you  had  better  meet  me  to-morrow,  and  bring  them 
with  you,  so  that  we  can  settle  up  with  them,  pay  them  their 
commission,  and  tell  them  that  you  have  bought  all  you  re 
quire.  Then  we  can  go  into  New  York,  to-morrow,  in  the  two 
o'clock  train,  and  make  arrangements  for  all  the  goods  you 
want,  without  the  heavy  commission  you  are  obliged  to  pay 
them." 

I  promised  to  come  to  his  office,  at  twelve  o'clock,  the 
next  day.  Franklin  and  Marshal  Milwood  were  duly  in 
formed  of  this  appointment. 

Mr.  B.'s  store  was  in  a  long,  narrow  building,  and  in 
the  rear  were  two  or  three  small  offices,  with  desks  for 
writing.  I  was  with  Mr.  B.  in  one  of  these. 

After  the  usual  salutations,  B.  asked  : 

"Where  are  A.  and  C.?" 

"They  are  running  about  town,  somewhere.  I  didn't 
want  to  bring  them  here.  I  will  sit  down  and  write  them  a 
letter,  stating  that  my  business  is  nearly  done  in  Philadel 
phia,  and  that  I  am  about  to  leave." 

Mr.  B.  furnished  me  with  paper,  and  I  took  a  seat  at  one 
of  the  desks,  to  write.  The  time  passed  on,  and  I  became 
restless,  for  Franklin  and  Milwood  should  already  have  ar 
rived. 

If  they  should  fail  me,  I  thought  I  should  be  in  a  very 
disagreeable  dilemma,  having  promised  to  go  with  B.  to 
New  York 


THE  LAST  ARREST   OF  THE  TRIO.  33 

I  was  thus  meditating,  when  I  heard  two  men  coming 
down  the  store  from  the  front.  In  a  moment  more  Marshal 
Mil  wood — a  large,  strong  man,  with  a  gold-headed  cane  and 
a  gold  badge — entered  the  next  office,  and  said  : 

"Is  this  Mr.  B.«" 

**That  is  my  name,  sir,"  responded  B. 

"  I  am  the  United  States  marshal  of  this  district,  and  I  ar 
rest  yon,  sir." 

B.  turned  pale. 

Meanwhile,  Franklin,  who  had  also  entered,  turned  and 
said  : 

"Here's  another  man  that  we  want.  This  is  that  man 
Munson." 

I  tore  off  the  paper  I  had  written,  and  commenced  rolling 
it  up,  as  though  secretly.  Taking  my  black  silk  hat  in  my 
hand,  I  quietly  put  the  paper  under  the  leather  lining  inside, 
and  placed  the  hat  on  my  head.  B.  was  watching  me,  and 
conjeciAired  that  I  had  written  something  in  the  letter  which 
could  criminate  them.  If  he  had  any  doubt  before  that  I  was 
what  I  represented  myself  to  be,  this  action  would  have  re 
moved  his  suspicions. 

"  I  ga^ss  you  are  mistaken,  gentlemen,"  said  I. 

"Oh,  no,  not  at  all,"  said  Franklin  ;  "you  can't  fool  us. 
You  are  the  man  that  came  here  from  the  South,  to  buy 
goods.  Let  me  see  the  letter  you  were  writing." 

"I  haven  t  written  any  letter,"  said  I. 

"Oh,  noiir?  of  that!"  said  Franklin,  knocking  my  hat 
from  my  head  as  roughly  as  though  he  had  been  in  earnest. 
"You  thought  [didn't  see  that  little  sleight-of-hand  perform 
ance,  didn't  you?"  he  continued,  taking  the  paper  from  the 
hat.  He  read  it,  and  handed  it  to  Milwood 

B  was  walking  up  and  down,  stroking  his  beard,  having 
regained  his  comoosure. 

"We  want  botli  of  yon,"  said  Milwood.  "  Mr.  Marshal," 
said  B.,  "I  think  y^ou  are  entirely  too  fast  in  thio  matter.  I 
am  an  old  citizen  here,  well  known,  and  a  partner  in  this 
house.  This  gentleman  is  from  the  South,  it  is  true.  He  in 
quired  me  out  and  visited  me,  but  I  cannot  believe  he  is 
here  for  any  improper  purpose.  So  far  as  I  am  concerned 
I  shall  be  able  to  show  who/ind  what  I  am  very  easily." 


84  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SEKVICE. 

B.  was  searched,  and  quite  important  papers  for  evidence 
were  found  on  him.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  Sixth  Precinct 
station-house. 

That  evening  Marshal  Mil  wood,  Ben.  Franklin,  and  I, 
went  down  to  see  the  prisoners,  I  keeping  carefully  out  of 
their  sight. 

"Let  us  see  what  the}'  will  say  to  each  other/'  said  one 
of  the  party.  An  officer  took  A.  into  C.'s  room. 

"  My  G— d  !  what  are  37ou  doing  here  f  exclaimed  A. 

1  'Doing  here?"  answered  C.,  angrily.     "I'm  arrested.'' 

"  Why,  when  were  you  arrested  ?" 

"I  was  standing  on  the  corner  of  Market  and  Third  Streets 
with  Miinson,  and  Ben.  Franklin  took  us  both." 

"  My  G — d,  I  was  arrested  with  Munson,"  said  A. 

"  You  can't  play  that  on  me.  You're  a  -  -  Jew,  and  it's 
you  who  have  brought  all  this  trouble  on  me." 

A.  was  enraged  at  this,  and  conversation  followed  of  the 
roughest  sort. 

When  the  excitement  subsided,  B.  was  put  into  the  same 
room  with  them,  Milwood,  Franklin,  and  myself,  still  out  of 
sight,  listening. 

"My  G — d,  B.,  you  arrested  too?"  said  A. 

B.  stroked  his  whiskers  and  looked  sternly. 

"I  understand  it  all,"  said  he.  "You  are  two  scoun 
drels,  and  one  or  the  other  of  you  either  betra}red  this  matter 
or  let  it  out  by  your  cursed  carelessness.  I  believe  A.,  that 
that  you  came  from  Baltimore  with  Munson  to  beat  him  out 
of  his  money  and  get  him  arrested." 

They  abused  each  other  for  nearly  an  hour,  and  A. 
wanted  to  fight  the  rest.  Each  declared  that  he  was  arrested 
with  Munson,  and  not  one  would  believe  a  word  the  other 
said. 

"Come,  you're  making  too  much  noise,"  said  the  officer, 
finally.  "  We'll  have  to  separate  you  again." 

Earl}  '..  the  morning  they  were  taken  to  a  prison  out  of 
town,  and  in  the  afternoon  Milwood  and  Franklin  went  with 
me  to  visit  them  again.  I  was  put  into  a  cell,  and  A.  brought 
and  locked  in  with  me. 

"  Mein  Got,  Munson,  what  a  troubles  this  is!"  said  A., 
his  German  accent  more  noticeable  in  his  dejection.  "Mein 


THE   PRISON   SCEXE.  8-j 

Got,  when  we  got  out  of  that  cars  and  that  man  Franklin 
came  up,  I  thought  I  should  have  died.  And  B.  and  C.  are 
arrested  too." 

"  Well,  we're  all  in  the  same  boat,"  said  I :  "I  suppose 
they'll  hang  me." 

In  a  short  time  A.  was  told  to  come  out  and  get  his  din 
ner,  and  B.  was  locked  in  with  me  ;  I  putting  on  the  aspect 
of  chief  mourner  over  our  fate. 

u  Well,  I'm  sorry  for  you,  Munson,"  said  B.  "I  suppose 
my  friends  will  have  me  out  this  afternoon  or  to-morrow,  and 
if  I  can  do  any  thing  for  you  I  shall  be  glad  to.  I  never 
liked  that  Jew,  and  I  am  convinced  that  this  is  all  his 
doing." 

After  a  while  B.  was  removed,  and  C.  pert  in  the  cell.  He 
came  in  with  a  knowing  leer  on  his  face.  He  had  suspected 
the  truth. 

"I'm  glad  to  see  you,  Munson,"  said  he;  "  that  was  a 
splendid  thing  we  played  on  them  fellows,  wasn't  it?  Oh, 
that's  the  way  to  catch  them  !" 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"   said  I. 

"  Why,  I  knew  who  you  were  all  the  time.  You  couldn't 
fool  me  ;  I  wanted  to  help  you  catch  the  scoundrels." 

"  Who  do  you  think  I  am  T 

"You  are  a  detective  from  Washington.  I  knew  you 
well  enough.  I  was  just  going  up  to  Marshal  Mil  wood,  to 
tell  him  what  we  had  done." 

"  C.,  it  is  too  late  to  tell  that  story  now.     It  won't  do." 

A  statement  of  the  cases  was  forwarded  to  Washington, 
and  A.,  B.,  and  C.  were  sent  to  Fort  Warren.  A.,  probably 
from  the  excitement  and  mortification  attending  his  arrest 
and  imprisonment,  became  insane,  and  was  sent  to  Black- 
well's  Island,  and  afterward  to  the  asylum  near  Baltimore, 
where  he  still  remains.  Before  A.  left,  in  a  fit  of  passion,  he 
struck  C.  in  the  face,  breaking  his  nose.  B.  and  C.  were 
released  on  bail  for  trial. 

A  leading  New  York  daily  paper  contained  the  very 
correct  account  of  the  case  as  quoted  below  : — 

"  The  most  important  arrests  that  have  been  made  during 
the  rebellion  came  to  light  in  this  city  to-day.  Most  of 


86  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SEIiVICE. 

tlio.se  previously  incarcerated  in  Fort  Lafayette  had  been 
devoting  their  influences  to  treason ;  but  the  parties  here 
arrestad  were  contributing  arms  and  munitions  of  war 
daily,  bribing  officers  of  the  United  States  Army  to  further 
their  designs,  and  had  organized  a  system  of  treason  so  skill 
ful  and  so  complete,  that  only  after  the  utmost  vigilance, 
and  when  the  detectives  had  tested  all  means  to  entrap  and 
decoy  them,  the  full  proofs  came  to  light. 

4 'The  names  of  these  men  are  J.  M.  H.,  F.  W.,  and  W. 
G. — H.  is  a  Baltimore  Israelite,  whose  business  is  the  making 
of  military  trimmings,  epaulettes,  sword-handles,  &c.  He 
had  obtained  a  hay  contract  from  the  United  States  Govern 
ment,  to  more  effectually  conceal  his  plans,  and  was  armed 
with  numerous  letters  from  Federal  functionaries,  that  he 
intended  to  produce  in  emergencies.  This  man  conducted 
contraband  trade  from  Baltimore  until  General  Dix  and  the 
provost-marshal  showed  him  up.  He  was  first  observed 
in  this  wise : — A  package,  containing  several  thousand  fric 
tion  tubes  and  cannon-primers,  had  been  left  at  Adams's 
Express  office  in  this  -city,  addressed  to  a  well-known  firm 
in  Baltimore.  Being  threatened  with  arrest,  the  latter  firm 
confessed  that  they  were  the  agents  of  J.  M.  H.,  and  it  was 
further  educed  that  the  same  was  shipped  under  a  fictitious 
name  by  W.  G. 

"Detective  Benjamin  Franklin,  a  sagacious  and  fertile 
Philadelphia  officer,  now  determined  to  seduce  H.  to  this 
city  ;  for  which  purpose  he  resorted  to  certain  ingenious 
means,  not  now  ripe  for  publication.  Convinced  that  heavy 
orders  awaited  him  here,  and  that  Philadelphia  was  less 
under  espionage  than  Baltimore,  H.  came  on.  A  cele 
brated  Lincoln  detective  now  took  part  in  the  matter,  and 
the  means  by  which  they  inveigled  all  the  parties  consti 
tute  the  richest  item  in  the  history  of  criminal  surveillance. 
The  Israelite  was  so  played  upon  that  he  is  not  yet  aware 
of  the  enemies  who  ruined  him,  and  when  the  matter  was 
ripe  the  whole  party  were  taken  up,  their  goods  and  papers 
seized,  and  they  are  now  in  Fort  Lafayette,  having  gone 
forward  on  Sunday  night. 

'*W.  G.  is  a  razor  and  cutlery  importer,  whose  estab 
lishment  is  situated  at  Fifth  and  Commerce   Streets.      HP 


THE   HAY   CONTRACT.  87 

has  never  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance,  being  an  Englishman. 
His  game  was  to  pretend  himself  a  Federal  agent  until  the 
worst  came,  when  he  was  to  claim  the  privileges  of  a  British 
subject.  In  his  establishment  were  found  surgical  instru 
ments,  caps,  pistols,  bowie-knives,  &c.,  packed  and  di 
rected  to  go  southward.  The  property  amounts  to  $10,000 
in  value. 

"F.  W.  is  a  Virginian,  formerly  in  partnership  with 
G.  B.  C.,  205  North  Water  Street.  He  has  always  been 
a  rabid  traitor,  and  his  wife  has  been  six  times  to  Rich 
mond  and  back  within  as  many  weeks,  taking  each  time 
trunks  heavily  tilled  with  weapons  and  goods  contraband. 
She  passed  our  lines  by  bribing  an  officer  of  the  army,  who 
obtained  passes  for  the  purpose.  Said  officer  has  been  ar 
rested,  and  will  probably  be  shot.  At  W.'s  house  an 
extensive  correspondence  with  parties  in  the  South  was 
found,  and  his  complicity  with  the  rebels  was  proved  by 
his  papers,  even  in  the  absence  of  any  other  evidence. 
Among  other  articles  seized,  there  was  a  pair  of  epau 
lettes,  marked  with  the  name  of  Captain  11.,  an  officer- 
in  the  rebel  army.  There  were  also  a  photographic  group 
of  worthies,  of  which  W.  was  the  center.  A  gentleman, 
who  is  familiar  with  the  likenesses,  says  that  they  repre 
sent  Captain  R.,  Captain  J.  A.  C.,  Lieutenant  C.  D.  F., 
of  Georgia,  and  B.,  mayor  of  Savannah,  all  decided 
rebels. 

"The  hay  contract  in  which  H.  was  engaged  was  to  have 
been  worked  to  good  advantage.  Two  vessels,  one  leaded 
with  bales  of  hay,  and  the  other  with  bales  containing  war 
munitions,  were  to  have  been  dispatched  up  the  Potomac, 
and  at  Aquia  Creek,  at  a  given  signal,  the  bogus  hay  \\  ould 
have  been  run  under  the  Rebel  batteries.  All  this  was 
proved  by  seized  letters,  and  also  the  fact  that  the  late  cap 
tures  of  Federal  sloops  and  small  craft  by  the  Rebels,  off 
the  Potomac  and  Rappahannock  Rivers,  were  the  work  of 
lesign  and  not  of  accident,  the  same  containing  contraband 
aatters.  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Baltimore  mer 
chants  are  thus  implicated,  and  the  proofs  are  too  plain 
and  startling  to  be  set  aside.  These  three  men  were  leagued 
together,  and  among  their  several  correspondence  were  la*< 


88  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

letters  from  Rebel  contractors,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of 
pistols  and  side-arms. 

"After  being  arrested,  they  were  shifted  from  station 
houses  to  prison,  being  one  night  taken  out  of  town  to 
stave  off  judicial  decisions,  writs  of  habeas  corpus,  &c. 
Finally,  on  Sunday,  Marshals  Jenkins  and  Steele  drove 
them  to  the  New  York  boat — W.  defiant,  G.  cowed  and 
sullen,  and  the  Israelite  trembling  like  a  leaf. 

"A  part  of  the  correspondence  implicating  them  waa 
obtained  from  the  wife  of  a  lieutenant  in  the  Federal  army, 
who  had  been  rather  delicately  implicated  with  N.  H.  W., 
now  in  Fort  Lafayette.  She  has  been  arrested  in  Newark, 
New  Jersey,  where  she  resides. 

"  The  Government  decoy  who  assisted  detective  Frank- 
Lin  in  these  labors  is  said  to  be  a  daring  Californian,  full 
of  nerve  and  fertile  in  expedients,  who  has  been  twice  in 
Charleston  and  thrice  in  Richmond  since  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run.  His  manner  of  making  the  arrest  cannot  now  be  dis 
closed,  although  it  rivals  in  interest  and  danger  the  exploits 
of  foe  best  Bow  Street  officers." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

TREASON  AND  TRAITORS  AT  THE  NORTH. 

'Baltimore — The  Detective  Service  and  the  Arrest  of  the  Maryland  Legis^.ure— The 
Refugee  and  the  Spy — The  Pursuit  and  the  Capture — Traitors  at  Niagara  Falls- 
Acquaintance  with  them — The  Arrest — In  Fort  Lafayette. 

Or  all  places  north  of  Mason  and  Dixon'  s  line,  Baltimore 
had  the  pre-eminence  in  the  early  development  of  treason, 
and  its  defiant  audacity.  It  is  doubtful  whether  any  other 
city  furnished  as  largely  and  promptly  for  the  rebel  army  the 
sons  of  aristocratic  families.  Here  originated,  practically, 
armed  resistance  to  the  Government. 

The  blood  of  the  Massachusetts  Sixth  was  the  first  martyr- 
blood  of  the  war,  and  it  stained  the  pavements  of  Baltimore. 
From  that  city  was  sent  the  first  expedition  to  destroy  a  rail 
road — that  to  Gunpowder  Eiver. 

Whatever  Baltimore  may  have  done  since  to  redeem  her 
name  from  treason's  darkest  hue,  at  the  beginning  of  the  civil 
yontiict  it  was  a  hot-bed  of  crime,  and  its  manifold  products 
served  well  the  garner  of  all  its  harvest — Richmond. 

To  make  the  most  of  the  information  obtained*  in  Rich 
mond,  and  of  my  letters  from  the  authorities,  I  sought  the 
acquaintance  of  leading  secessionists,  and  was  soon  on  excel 
lent  terms  with  them ;  indeed,  I  was  admitted  into  their  secret 
councils.  This  was  more  readily  done  at  this  time,  when  any 
representative  of  the  South  was  cordially  welcomed  to  the 
traitorous  circles  of  that  city.  And  my  commission  from  the 
Confederate  government  gave  me  distinction  among  the 
friends  of  the  revolt. 

So  determined  and  persistent  were  the  people  in  their 
opposition  to  the  Government,  that  a  well-devised  and 
deeply-laid  plan  was  nearly  consummated  to  carry  the  State 
out  of  the  Union  and  to  link  its  destinies  with  the  Southr 


90  UNITED   STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

This  wab  to  be  accomplished  through  the  secret  assembling 
of  the  Legislature  of  Maryland.  So  dark,  disloyal,  and  un 
known  to  the  public  had  been  the  meetings  of  this  Legisla 
ture,  that  none  (or  very  few)  of  the  most  prominent  rebels 
were  apprised  of  its  movements.  As  a  confidential  and 
trusted  friend  of  the  authorities  at  Richmond,  there  could  be 
no  objection  to  revealing  to  me  the  plot. 

At  many  of  the  private  meetings  which  I  was  invited  to 
attend,  I  was  shocked  and  amazed  at  the  cool  and  deliberate 
manner  in  which  they  declared  their  intentions  to  meet  at 
Frederick,  pass  the  ordinance  of  secession,  and  by  it  make 
and  proclaim  Maryland  a  Confederate  State.  These  facts,  as 
fast  as  they  were  obtained,  were  forwarded  to  Washington. 

The  rebel  legislators  arrived  in  Frederick,  in  accordance 
with  a  previous  understanding,  at  different  times,  and  from 
various  directions,  to  avoid  suspicion  in  loyal  minds  as  to 
their  real  object.  This  was  about  the  middle  of  September, 
1861.  Those  that  did  reach  Frederick  were  quietly  arrested, 
and  others  en  route,  or  just  ready  to  leave  Baltimore  to  meet 
their  fellow-conspirators,  were  taken  with  so  little  demonstra 
tion,  scarcely  any  one  of  the  number  knew  of  the  arrest  of 
his  fellow -traitor. 

The  prompt  action  taken  by  the  Government  and  its  im 
portance,  I  believe,  have  never  been  appreciated  by  the 
people  of  the  loyal  State? 

It  is  startling  to  contemplate  for  a  moment  the  result 
which  must  have  followed  the  vote  of  this  body  of  treason 
able  men. 

It  would  have  been  taken  at  once  as  the  signal  for  the 
immediate  organization  of  a  large  rebel  force  in  the. State; 
and,  instead  of  Washington  having  been  the  capital  of  the 
Union  in  the  civil  war,  it  would  have  been  the  capital  of  the 
Confederacy. 

Instead  of  the  Potomac  river  being  the  picket  line  be 
tween  the  hostile  armies,  that  line  would  probably  have  been 
somewhere  on  the  borders  of  Pennsylvania. 

Whatever  may  be  the  estimate  put  upon  the  military  or 
civil  status  of  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  to  his  energy,  courage,  and 
executive  power  in  an  emergency,  the  country  is  indebted 
for  the  position  which  Maryland  occupied  during  the  war 


THE  REFUGEE   AND  THE   FEMALE  SPY.  91 

Had  he  faltered  on  his  arrival  in  the  State,  or  even  hesitated 
a  moment,  Maryland  would  have  been  a  Confederate  State. 
Had  he  done  nothing  more,  the  country  would  have  owed 
General  Butler  a  lasting  debt  of  gratitude. 

September  28,  1861,  while  stopping  at  French's  Hotel,  in 
New  York,  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  C.,  the  book 
keeper.  Having  had  occasion  to  make  inquiries  of  the  char 
acter  of  his  guests,  I  was  compelled  to  disclose  my  office. 

While  conversing  with  him  on  one  occasion  about  the 
hardships  of  the  loyal  people  of  the  South,  he  called  my  at 
tention  to  a  man  stopping  there,  who  said  he  was  a  refugee 
from  Mobile,  and  wished  me  to  hear  his  story  of  wrongs. 

I  consented,  and  was  introduced  to  an  apparently  respect 
able  and  honest  mechanic,  who  stated  that  he  was  a  North 
ern  man,  and  had  been  South  for  some  time,  as  locomotive 
engineer. 

When  the  rebellion  began,  he  inadvertently  declared  his 
sentiments,  and  the  vigilance  committee  ordered  him  to  go 
North. 

He  owned  a  small  house,  worth  a  few  thousand  dollars, 
and  wished  to  stay  long  enough  to  sell  it  and  take  his  family 
with  him.  But  he  was  required  to  start  at  once,  leaving  his 
family  behind. 

An  intimation  to  him  by  Mr.  C.  that  I  might  influence  the 
authorities  at  Washington  and  get  a  pass,  induced  him  to 
apply  to  me  for  assistance. 

I  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  case,  gave  him  my  address  in 
Washington,  and  asked  him  to  call  upon  me  there.  Subse 
quently,  when  the  incident  had  passed  from  my  mind,  one 
day  my  refugee  friend  came  rushing  into  my  apartment  at 
Washington,  and  excitedly  said  : 

UI  have  just  met  B.  on  the  avenue,  a  young  man  from 
Montgomery,  Alabama,  where  I  was  once  employed,  ele 
gantly  dressed  in  female  attire,  and  accompanied  by  a  man 
whom  I  do  not  know.  I  believe  he  is  a  spy." 

"  Why  did  you  not  follow  him  ? " 

"  1  was  so  much  excited,  I  did  not  think  of  it." 

My  informant  then  gave  me  some  account  of  B.,  when  I 
requested  him  to  go  with  one  of  my  assistants  through  the 
principal  streets  in  search  of  the  mysterious  strangers. 


92  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

The  search  was  continued  for  six  days. 

One  morning  he  came  with  the  haste  of  great  excitement 
into  my  quarters  again,  saying  : 

"Well,  I  met  B.  and  his  friend  just  now,  and  followed 
them  to  the  National  Hotel." 

I  went  there  with  my  informant,  procured  two  tickets  for 
dinner,  and  we  were  soon  seated  at  the  table,  where  I  found 
the  couple.  They  were  registered  in  the  book  as  "Dr.  McC. 
and  wife,  Harper's  Ferry,  Va."  I  did  not  lose  sight  of  them 
again. 

On  Saturday  they  left  Washington.  I  followed  them  to 
Philadelphia.  They  stopped  at  the  Continental  Hotel,  regis 
tering  their  names  uDr.  McG.  and  wife,  Washington,  D.  C." 
Under  their  names  I  put  my  own  as  "John  Brown."  After 
some  further  disclosures,  which  we  shall  not  here  detail,  on 
Sunday  night  they  started  for  the  West. 

I  was  dressed  in  the  garb  of  a  farmer,  and  managed  with 
out  suspicion  to  sit  near  them  and  hear  much  of  their  con 
versation  ;  all  of  which  proved  clearly  their  treasonable 
character. 

Monday  night  we  reached  the  Burnett  House,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  I  saw  them  safely  domiciled  in  the  fourth  story,  and 
waited  until  after  one  o'clock  at  night,  when  I  knocked  at 
the  door.  It  was  cautiously  opened,  when  I  said : 

"Doctor,  I  want  to  see  you  privately  a  moment." 

His  wife  was  sitting  with  her  feet  on  the  mantel-piece, 
smoking  a  cigar,  and  her  dress  unhooked. 

I  said,  "Doctor,  I  have  followed  you  from  Washington; 
I  know  the  character  of  this  young  man  in  female  dress." 

At  this  moment  I  noticed  a  revolver  on  the  mantel-piece, 
and  remarked : 

"  This  might  be  dangerous  in  the  hands  of  an  ill-minded 
person  ;  I  guess  I  will  take  possession  of  it." 

The  doctor  was  boisterous  and  threatening.  I  told  him  1 
did  not  wish  to  make  him  notorious  there,  and  alarm  the 
house  ;  that  I  knew  all  about  them,  and  resistance  ^ould  not 
help  the  matter.  McC.  commenced  pulling  on  his  boots, 
when  I  noticed  the  glitter  of  the  handle  of  a  bowie-knife 
which  was  thrust  into  a  pocket  in  the  side  of  his  boot.  I 
added,  reaching  out  my  hand  : 


ARREST  OF  REBEL  AGENTS.  93 

u  Doctor,  I  think  I  will  take  this  also  ;  you  might  hurt 
yourself." 

With  a  slight  resistance  on  his  part,  I  secured  it  The 
search  of  his  baggage  revealed,  drawn  on  tissue  paper,  elab 
orately  prepared  plans  of  the  fortifications  and  number,  of 
troops  in  and  around  Washington,  with  a  large  number  of 
letters  of  great  importance  to  the  Government. 

All  of  these  were  put  into  the  trunks,  again  locked  up, 
and  with  the  keys  in  my  possession,  at  four  o'clock  A.M., 
I  was  on  my  way  to  Washington  with  the  travelers  and  their 
precious  freight.  They  were  safely  quartered  in  the  Old 
Capitol  prison,  and  the  maps,  &c.,  delivered  to  Mr.  Seward. 

As  an  evidence  that  the  great  rebellion  had  long  been 
premeditated  by  the  prominent  politicians  of  the  South,  it  is 
only  necessary  to  observe  how  completely  they  seemed  to 
have  the  machinery  of  their  treason  in  operation.  For, 
before  the  roar  of  the  cannon  around  Sumter  had  ceased 
to  echo  in  the  bay  of  Charleston,  the  secret  emissaries  of  the 
cause  had  received  their  instructions,  and  each  knew  dis 
tinctly  the  part  he  was  to  play  in  the  great  drama. 

From  Floyd  to  the  lowest  traitor,  the  certainty  of  success, 
and  the  matured  plans,  had  so  emboldened  them,  that  but 
little  discretion  or  concealment  was  deemed  important.  And 
while  Breckinridge  was  daring  the  North  in  Congress  to 
oppose  the  right  of  the  South  to  secede,  its  traitorous  agents 
were  boasting  in  the  .streets  of  Washington  what  they  iii- 
tended  to  do. 

With  a  view  to  the  arrest  of  these  rebel  agents,  Octobf  r 
18, 1861,  I  went  to  Canada,  as  the  subjoined  letter  will  show  : 

WASHINGTON,  October  25,  1861.       , 
lion.  SECRETARY  OF  STATE  : 

DEAR  SIR — I  returned  from  Canada  this  morning.  I  found  at  the  Cliftow 
House,  Niagara  Falls,  a  large  number  of  prominent  secessionists,  who  hav* 
just  returned  from  Europe. 

1  would  like  an  order  for  the  arrest  and  conveyance  to  Fort  Lafayette  of 
S.  "W.  A.  and  O.  B.  C.,  the  first-named  being  a  member  of  the  so-called  Con 
federate  Congress  at  this  time.  These  traitors  are  waiting  an  opportunity  to  go 
South.  They  have  very  important  correspondence  in  tJ.eir  possession,  somo 
tf  which  I  have  seen.  I  am  confident  I  shall  succeed  in  inducing  them  to 
Tisit  our  side  of  the  river,  which  of  course  will  be  the  only  opportunity  fur 
arresting  them.  Yours,  very  respectfully, 

L.    0.    B4KKE. 


94  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

Having  obtained  the  desired  order  from  the  Secretary  of 
State,  I  immediately  started  for  Niagara  Falls.  At  Roches 
ter  I  employed  a  colored  servant,  for  I  had  determined  to 
play  the  part  of  some  prominent  rebel  from  the  South,  and 
wrote  three  letters,  all  addressed  to  the  name  at  the  Clifton 
House  which  I  had  assumed. 

One  of  these  letters  was  mailed  in  New  York,  one  in  St. 
Louis,  and  the  third  in  Washington.  On  my  arrival  at  the 
Clifton  House,  where  my  secession  friends  alluded  to  were 
stopping,  I  registered  my  assumed  name,  and  put  on  the  airs 
of  a  Southern  gentleman.  I  secured  two  of  the  most  spacious 
rooms  in  the  house. 

The  obliging  landlord  brought  to  me  my  letters,  and  in 
view  of  the  honor  conferred  upon  him  he  was  more  than 
ordinarily  civil. 

He  remarked  that  he  had  often  heard  my  name  mentioned 
by  his  Southern  friends.  Upon  my  adding  that  I  desired  to 
live  in  perfect  quiet,  he  said  that  it  would  be  impossible  for 
one  so  distinguished  to  do  this ;  especially  would  my  ac 
quaintance  be  sought  by  fellow-exiles  from  the  "  sunny 
South." 

I  was  allowed  to  pass  that  evening  in  seclusion  ;  but  early 
the  next  morning  a  servant  handed  me  the  card  ot  S.  W. 
Ashley,  with  his  compliments,  and  expressing  a  desire  to 
pee  me. 

I  graciously  granted  Mr.  A.'s  request,  and  told  the  s^r 
vant  to  show  him  up. 

I  may  here  remark  that  the  chances  or  risks  so  often  taken 
of  being  detected  in  the  assumed  name  by  some  acquaintance 
of  the  real  person,  sometimes  do  prove  fatal  to  the  plan  ;  but 
even  a  defeat  by  the  discovery  of  the  real  object  by  those 
I  am  seeking  to  entrap  is  only  the  failure  of  that  particu 
lar  plot,  leaving  a  hundred  others  open  for  farther  experi 
ment. 

Fortune  favored  me,  however,  in  this  case,  as  Mr.  A.  had 
no  personal  acquaintance  with  the  traitor  whose  name  I  had 
assumed. 

Our  aims  and  purposes  apparently  being  alike,  we  were 
Boon  on  the  most  familiar  terms.  We  talked  over  the  pros- 
•oect  of  glorious  successes  by  our  gallant  troops,  and  laughed 


PERILS  OF  "SUSPENSION  BRIDGE."  97 

at  the  absurdity   of  the  attempt  of  the  Yankees  to  resist  the 
valor  of  the  chivalric  South. 

Mr.  A.,  having  preceded  me  several  days  in  the  visit 
to  the  Falls,  had  become  acquainted  with  the  interesting 
localities,  and  politely  invited  me  to  accompany  him  on  a 
tour  of  observation.  I  gladly  accepted,  and  spent  a  day 
among  the  wonders  of  the  great  cataract. 

The  following  morning  he  called  again,  to  repeat  the  kind 
attention. 

At  my  suggestion,  we  decided  to  visit  that  marvelous 
monument  of  engineering  skill,  the  Suspension  Bridge.  I 
was  enthusiastic  in  praise  of  the  designer,  and  tried  to  ex 
plain  how  the  iirst  wires  were  thrown  over  the  chasm  ;  and> 
to  have  a  farther  inspection,  proposed  that  we  should  buy 
tickets  to  cross,  intimating  to  my  friend  that  we  had  better 
not  go  over,  but  simply  advance  a  sufficient  distance  to  make 
an  examination  of  the  structure. 

I  entertained  my  friend  with  remarks  upon  the  scenery, 
the  cables,  &c. ;  and,  to  go  into  the  scientific  observation  of 
the  different  parts  of  the  bridge,  I  went  over  the  national  line 
a  hundred  feet  perhaps,  toward  the  American  shore.  While 
deeply  interested  in  conversation,  we  were  suddenly  accosted 
by  a  mild,  gentlemanly  man,  who  said  to  my  friend,  Mr.  A. : 

"  Your  name  is  A.,  sir?    I  have  an  order  from  the  Sec 
retary  of  State  for  your  arrest.     In  your  admiration  of  this 
structure,  I  think  you  have  ventured  a  little  too  far.     You 
will  please  accompany  me  with  your  friend. " 

I  replied  :  "  Sir,  certainly  you  can  not  have  an  order  for 
my  arrest ;  if  so,  will  you  produce  it?" 

He  then  took  from  his  pocket  the  order  for  the  arrest  of 
Philip  Herbert,  my  assumed  name. 

I  suggested  to  Mr.  A.  that  we  should  accompany  the 
officer,  quite  sure  that,  upon  the  proper  explanation,  we 
should  be  at  once  released. 

Our  protestations  were  of  no  avail.  He  said:  "I  have 
been  watching  this  bridge  for  you  three  weeks  ;  quite  sure 
you  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  examine  it.  You 
must  go  with  me."  We  started  immediately  for  New  York. 

Mr.  A.  had  been  quite  thoughtful  and  sombre  on  the 
way  to  Rochester,  and  there  remarked  to  me  that  his  mind 


98  UNITED  STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

was  not  perfectly  clear  in  regard  to  the  part  I  was  playing  ; 
he  had  his  suspicions  that  he  had  mistaken  his  man.  Philip 
Herbert,  it  will  be  recollected,  while  in  Congress,  killed  a 
waiter  in  Willard's  Hotel,  and  after  the  date  of  this  affair 
was  himself  killed  in  the  war  while  colonel  of  a  regiment. 

We  were  taken  from  New  York  to  Fort  Lafayette,  where 
I  remained  an  hour  and  my  less  fortunate  friend  eight  months 


CHAPTER    V. 

A   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDKN"  SQUARE. 

P    II    F.,   alias   Carlisle   Murray,   a   Knight   of  the    Golden    Square— The  Arrest- 
Relewc — Papers  of  F.  examined — Secretary  Seward's  Order  for  a  Second  Arrest 
— On   the  Track — The   Rural    Retreat — Mr.  Carlisle   Murray   a   Reformer   and 
Lover — The  Official  Writ — The  Astonished  Landlord  and  Landlady — A  Scene- 
Report. 

IT  was  during  the  month  of  November,  1861,  that  the  ex 
istence  of  certain  treasonable  organizations,  having  for  their 
object  the  overthrow  of  the  Government,  began  to  attract 
attention.  October  17,  1861,  a  communication  was  received 
by  the  lion.  Secretary  of  State,  purporting  to  give  the  his 
tory  of  a  secret  society  in  Texas,  known  as  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Circle.  The  particular  objects  of  this  organization 
were  not,  however,  fully  explained.  A  few  days  later,  an 
other  letter  was  received  at  the  State  Department,  giving 
similar  information.  On  the  24th  of  October,  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Chief  of  the  Philadelphia  Police,  arrested,  on  a 
telegraphic  dispatch,  a  one-armed  man,  named  Carlisle  Mur- 
/ay,  and  confined  him  in  the  station-house  of  that  city.  On- 
searching  his  person,  mysterious  papers  were  found,  appar 
ently  containing  the  constitution  and  by-laws  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Square.  Franklin  sent  a  dispatch  to  me,  in 
forming  me  of  the  arrest. 

I  came  to  Philadelphia,  compared  the  documents  with  the 
original  records  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  fit  the 
State  Department,  and  found  them  to  agree — the  two  societies 
were  clearly  essentiallj7  one  in  character.  In  a  further  con 
versation  with  Murray,  he  claimed  to  be  an  intimate  friend 
of  a  well-known  merchant-prince  of  Boston,  for  whom  he 
acted  as  agent.  At  this  stage  of  the  war  so  little  was  known 
of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  no  great  importance  was 
attached  to  Murray's  papers,  and  he  was  released. 


100  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

Before  this,  however,  I  recognized  him  as  a  somewhat 
distinguished  individual.  His  name  was  P.  H.  F.,  who 
figured  as  Filibuster  Walker's  minister  from  Nicaragua  in 
1848.  A  subsequent  examination  of  the  papers  in  Murray's 
possession,  taken  in  connection  with  those  before  referred 
to,  satisfied  me  that  he  was  really  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Circle. 

Clothed  with  the  authority  conferred  by  the  following 
order,  I  entered  upon  the  search  after  F.  :.— 

DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE,         (, 
WASHINGTON,  Nwen3>er  2, 1861.  \ 

To  L.  C.  BAKER,  Esq.,  Washington,  D.  0.  :— 

You  will  please  arrest  P.  H.  F.,  alias  Carlisle  Murray,  and  convey  him  to 
Fort  Warren,  Boston,  Massachusetts.     Examine  his  person  and  baggage,  and 
send  all  papers  found  in  his  possession  to  this  Department. 
I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  WILLIAM  H.  SKWARD, 

Secretary  of  State. 

He  had  been  released  some  weeks  before  his  real  charac 
ter  was  discovered.  To  find  him  then  seemed  a  hopeless 
task.  By  intercepted  letters  postmarked  Branford,  Conn., 
I  was  soon  on  his  track.  Assuming  another  name,  he  had 
selected  this  quiet  town  as  his  temporary  residence.  His 
assumed  name  there  I  did  not  know  ;  consequently  must 
devise  some  plan  which  would  lead  to  the  knowledge 
of  his  locality.  Accompanied  by  Franklin,  I  proceeded  ta 
Branford.  To  avoid  suspicion  on  the  part  of  the  citizens,  it 
was  necessary  that  Mr.  Franklin  and  myself  should  appear 
under  an  assumed  character.  We  represented  ourselves  to 
be  gun  manufacturers  in  behalf  of  the  Government,  seeking 
for  an  eligible  spot  and  building  in  which  to  carry  forward 
our  business.  An  old  machine  shop,  not  then  used,  answered 
my  purpose. 

When  it  was  known  that  two  intelligent  men  were  about 
establishing  business  for  the  loyal  cause,  the  good  people  of 
course  were  very  anxious  to  serve  us.  The  only  hotel  in 
Branford  was  a  quiet  inn,  kept  by  a  venerable  couple.  Here 
we  found  ourselves,  strangers  to  all  and  in  pursuit  of  a 
stranger,  with  no  tangible  clew  to  his  person  or  place  of 
abode.  To  get  on  good  terms  with  "mine  host"  and  hostess 


THE   ASTONISHED    LAXDLALY.  1Q1 

it  vvas  only  necessary  to  state  prospective  plans,  and  that 
their  house  would  be  my  headquarters.  Th»3  old  man  talked 
freely  of  the  facilities  for  my  contemplated  business,  and  of 
the  moral  and  social  condition  of  the  people ;  inviting 
Franklin  and  myself  to  dine  with  them.  Up  to  this  time  we 
had  made  no  inquiry  for  the  object  of  our  visit,  trusting  to 
circum stances  for  farther  developments.  We  soon  sat  down 
to  an  excellent  dinner.  While  at  the  table,  the  old  lady  in 
quired  of  her  husband,  "Is  Mr.  Jackson  coming  down  to 
dinner?  You  had  better  ask  him."  This  question  satisfied 
me  that  we  had  a  distinguished  guest.  Who  was  that  Mr. 
Jackson  I  I  immediately  rose,  giving  Franklin  the  cue,  and, 
to  the  astonishment  of  the  honest  pair  presiding  at  the  table, 
rushed  up  stairs  to  search  the  house.  Hurrying  from  room 
to  room,  at  length  I  found  the  strange  boarder  occupying  the 
only  bedroom  and  parlor  in  the  house.  I  said,  extending 
wj  hand : 

•   How  are  you,  F?  " 

He  arose,  and,  politely  taking  my  hand,  said : 

"  Vju  have  the  advantage  of  me." 

I  replied :  "  I  believe  I  have  ;  for  I  have  a  warrant  for 
your  arrest ;  and  I  don't  think  you  have  one  for  me." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  he  replied  ;  "I  recollect  you  now.  You  are 
from  California?" 

And  in  the  coolest  and  most  off-hand  manner  said  : 

"  Why,  I  am  glad  to  see  anybody  from  California.  Here 
is  some  good  brandy.  Well,  how  are  my  friends,  McDougal 
and  Tillford  ? " 

He  then  added:  "  Why,  Baker,  this  is  a  good  joke. 
How  did  you  find  out  where  I  was  ?  I  thought  I  had  got 
beyond  the  reach  of  detectives.  Now,  the  people  here  think 
me  a  very  good  man.  I  have  lectured  on  temperance  and 
religion  ;  have  a  class  in  the  Sabbath-school ;  and  am  court 
ing  one  of  the  prettiest  girls  in  Connecticut.  This  is  too 
bad." 

By  this  time  the  landlord  and  his  wife  had  entered  the 
room,  having  learned  from  Franklin  French's  real  character, 
when  she  said  : 

"Why,  Mr.  Jackson,  how  could  you  be  so  wicked? 
These  gentlemen  say  you  are  a  rebel  spy.  To  think  that  a 


UNITED   STATES    SECRET   SERVICE. 

secessionist  has  even  slept  under  our  roof.     I'll  have  to  air 
the  bed  and  purify  the  whole  house." 

Then,  looking  at  her  hands  and  crying  bitterly,  she 
added  : 

"  And  I  have  washed  your  clothes  !  May  the  Lord  for 
give  you,  for  I  can't." 

The  scene  was  a  mixture  of  the  pathetic  and  comic  rarely 
witnessed.  The  unsuspecting  landlord,  who  had  nearly 
reached  his  threescore  and  ten  years,  stood  trembling  with 
the  palsy,  and  with  a  most  woebegone  expression,  while  his 
more  demonstrative  companion  seemed  beyond  the  reach  of 
a  comforting  word.  Then  followed  a  hasty  packing  up  of 
French's  effects,  and  sending  them  down  stairs,  when  he 
paid  his  weekly  bill,  and  said  to  the  landlady  : 

"  I  will  return  and  explain  this  whole  thing  to  you." 
In  less  time  than  it  has  taken  to  tell  the  story,  the  news 
had  spread  through  the  village.     The  pastor  whose  r  ilpit 
French  had  occupied,  the  postmaster,  and  blacksmith  were 
at  the  hotel.     But  one  person  could  be  found  who  f  bjected 
to  the  proceedings,  and  he  was  a  newly  arrived  M.  D.  from 
Texas,  who  at  once  declared  his  purpose  to  resist  the  order 
of  arrest,  and  called  upon  the  people  to  assist  in  rescuing  the 
prisoner.     The  display  of  a  six-shooter  immediately  quieted 
his  rebellious  spirit.     F.  was  taken  to  New  Haven,  thence 
to  Fort  Warren.     After  a  brief  incarceration,  he  was  paroled 
by  Secretary  Seward ;   and  so  the  matter  ended.     The  dis 
loyal   order"  of  the   Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  was  so 
vaguely  understood  that  it  was  thought,   after  all,   harm 
less  to  the  Government. 

The  subjoined  report  to  the  Secretary  of  State  will  shed 
more  light  upon  the  character  and  career  of  F.,  and  illus 
trate  further  the  necessity  of  a  detective  police  when  traitors 
in  arms  and  in  the  disguise  of  loyal  citizens  are  plotting  with 
unscrupulous  hate  against  the  Government : 

WASHINGTON,  November  17,  1861. 
To  the  Hon.  W.  II.  SEWARD  :— 

DEAR  SIR-  --On  the  2d  of  November,  I  received  an  ordei  from  the  State 
Department  to  arrest  and  convey  to  Fort  Warren  one  P.  II.  F.,  alias  Carlisle 
Murray.  From  an  intercepted  letter  found  in  the  Philadelphia  post-ofnce,  1 
had  reason  to  believe  that  F.  was  at  or  near  Branford,  Connecticut.  On 


A  KNIGHT   OF   THE   GOLDEN   SQUARE.  103 

the  5tli  instant,  I  took  officer  Ben.  Franklin,  and  proceeded  to  the  above- 
named  place.  After  some  delay,  I  succeeded  in  finding  F.  at  a  small  hotel, 
where  he  had  been  stopping  for  some  months.  I  immediately  placed  him 
under  arrest,  searched  his  person  and  effects,  and  found  a  number  of  letters, 
most  of  which  seem  to  be  a  correspondence  between  him  (F.)  and  a  dis 
tinguished  merchant,  relating  to  the  sale  of  certain  steamboats  to  the  United 
States  Government  belonging  to  this  merchant.  F.  had  represented  him 
self  to  the  confiding  gentleman  as  one  Carlisle  Murray,  who  had  been 
driven  out  of  the  South  because  of  his  Union  sentiments.  He  also  exhibited 
what  purported  to  be  genuine  letters  from  the  Hon.  Mr.  Etheridge,  Andrew 
Johnson,  Parson  Brownlow,  and  others,  authorizing  him  to  collect  moneys 
from  loyal  people  of  the  North,  for  the  support  of  Parson  Brovvnlow's  paper 
(the  Enoxmlle  WKig).  I  have  ascertained  that  he  did  collect,  from  the  mer 
chant  already  mentioned,  and  others,  about  four  thousand  dollars.  A  careful 
perusal  of  the  correspondence  between  these  parties  shows  that  the  latter 
did  make  an  engagement  with  Mr.  F.  to  sell  two  steamers  to  our  Govern 
ment,  and  that  he  was  to  receive  a  certain  commission  for  the  same.  During 
the  time  he  was  trying  to  sell  or  negotiate  for  the  steamboats,  he  visited  the 
merchant  at  his  country  residence,  was  invited  to  spend  the  Sabbath,  and 
dine  with  him  (which  invitation  F.  accepted),  receiving  letters  of  introduction 
to  prominent  and  wealthy  citizens  of  Boston,  New  York,  Brooklyn,  and 
other  places.  There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  F.  is  one  of  the  most  accom 
plished  villains  in  America,  nor  that  the  merchant  did  liona  fide  enter  into 
a  contract  or  agreement  with  F.  to  sell  certain  steamboats  to  the  United 
States;  nor  that  his  patron  was  informed  of  the  true  character  of  F.  long 
before  he  took  any  steps  for  his  arrest.  The  correspondence  and  all  the 
facts  in  the  case  go  to  show :  First,  that  F.,  by  forged  letters  and  misrepre 
sentations,  deceived  his  patron  ;  second,  that  the  merchant,  finding  F.  a  very 
shrewd,  intelligent  man,  did  employ  him  to  sell  the  steamers;  and  third,  that, 
when  he  learned  the  real  character  of  F.,  the  authorities  were  not  immediately 
notified  by  him ;  and  when  said  merchant  ascertained  that  F.  could  not,  or 
would  not,  make  a  sale  of  the  boats,  he  telegraphed  to  the  authorities  in 
Philadelphia  to  arrest  Carlisle  Murray  for  swindling.  These  are,  in  my  opinion, 
about  the  facts  relating  to  the  matter,  as  far  as  the  merchant  is  concerned. 

Among  the  papers  found  in  F.'s  possession,  was  a  manuscript  purporting 
to  be  the  constitution  and  by-laws  of  a  secret  order  or  association,  known 
as  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Square.  This  document  is  copied  almcet  ver 
batim  from  the  constitution  and  by-laws  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle, 
an  order  that  originated  in  Texas,  some  two  years  since,  the  object  of  which 
was,  the  overthrow  of  the  United  States  Government.  By  an  ingenious  word 
ing  of  these  papers — that  is,  whenever  the  name  and  objects  of  the  order 
occur — the  terms  have  been  used,  evidently  intending  to  convey  the  impres 
sion  that  it  was  a  Union  order,  designed  to  be  secret  in  its  nature,  but  the 
object  of  which  was  to  be  the  maintenance  of  the  cause  of  the  North. 

T  am  satisfied  that  F.  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle; 
that  he  has  copied  their  constitution  and  by-laws ;  that  the  papers  found  in 
his  possession  have  been  altered  or  worded  differently  from  the  original,  to 


104  UNITED    STATES    SECRET   SERVICE. 

that,  if  he  should  at  any  time  be  suspected  or  arrested,  these  papers  could  not 
he  used  as  evidence  against  him.  All  the  letters  and  papers  found  in  F.1? 
possession  are  forwarded  to  your  Department. 

Yours,  very  truly, 

L.  0.  BAKEK. 

Tri  the  early  stages  of  the  war,  before  any  police  organ 
ization  of  the  Government  had  been  perfected  or  set  in 
operation,  and  before  blockade  restrictions  had  been  es 
tablished,  the  whole  North  was  flooded  by  a  class  of  south 
ern  spies,  correspondents,  and  incendiaries.  That  the  spy 
ing  and  detective  business  was  not  confined  to  those  who 
had  made  it  a  profession  would  seem  to  be  indicated  by 
the  following  letter.  The  writer  of  this  precious  document 
was  an  Episcopalian  minister  from  the  South,  who  had  been 
employed  by  the  rebel  government  to  visit  the  North,  with 
a  view  to  ascertain  the  movements  then  on  foot  toward  the 
organization  of  the  army.  It  was  written  to  Bishop  Gen 
eral  P.  The  uJoe"  spoken  of,  was  a  sergeant  in  one 
of  the  Federal  regiments,  with  whom  an  arrangement  had 
been  made  by  the  writer  to  convey  through  the  lines  to 
the  rebels  any  documents  that  might  be  forwarded  to  him 
for  that  purpose.  "Joe"  was  ferreted  out  and  arrested, 
and  made  a  confession  of  the  whole  scheme  which  is  re 
ferred  to  in  the  communication ;  to  wit,  the  organization  of 
a  force  in  Philadelphia,  New  Jersey,  and  Delaware,  to  seize 
the  Arsenal,  Navy  Yard,  and  public  property  at  Philadel 
phia.  The  "friend  Bob"  spoken  of  was  Bob  B.  (ex-senator 
B.),  cf  Delaware.  When  the  ringleaders  of  this  conspiracy 
discovered  that  I  was  on  their  track,  they  immediately 
abandoned  the  scheme,  or  transferred  their  field  of  opera 
tions  to  the  West,  where  an  organization  was  perfected, 
but  broken  up  by  the  arrest  of*  Dr.  D.  at  Indianapolis, 
in  1864. 

PHILADELPHIA,  December  26,  1861. 

WORTHY  SIR — Various  good  and  sufficient  reasons  have  detained  me  north 
of  this  point  several  days  beyond  the  time  specified  in  your  instructions/  First 
of  these,  I,  in  a  room  in  Boston,  was  expatiating,  as  usual,  upon  the  horrors  and 
gin  of  slavery,  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  misrepresenting,  in  a  blundering  way, 
its  real  condition.  One  of  the  chaps  took  up  the  cudgel  in  good  earnest.  Ha 
had  sailed  South,  been  in  Southern  ports,  knew  Southern  people  well,  they 
rere  kind  to  the  nigger,  &c.,  &c.  I  invited  talk,  solicited  conversation  and 


A   SPICY   CLERICAL  EPISTLE.  l()n 

Information — gained  his  confidence,  finding  how  freely  he  let  himself  out.  1 
had  several  interviews,  and  finally  threw  off  the  mask,  and  told  rny  real  object 
was  to  gain  information,  in  which  he  aided  me  to  the  extent  of  his  utmost 
ability.  Ho  is  a  man  about  sixty  years  of  age,  but  strong  and  active ;  and 
although  a  native-born  New  Englander,  he  hates,  with  a  perfect  ferociousness, 
the  name  of  New  England.  Several  reasons  conspire  to  produce  this.  First, 
he  has  been  swindled  by  a  pious  deacon,  his  brother-in-law,  who  induced  his 
wife  to  forsake  him  ;  then  he  has  mingled,  to  a  great  extent,  with  our  people 
South,  and  cherishes  a  fond  recollection  of  many  of  our  citizens.  Oh,  how  he 
swears  at  the  Yankees.  I  soon  ascertained  that  I  might  place  implicit  reliance 
upon  his  word.  My -respect  and  confidence  were  confirmed  by  the  opinions 
entertained  and  freely  expressed  here  by  all  classes.  They  represent  him  as  a 
bold,  outspoken  secessionist.  Being  a  man  of  tried  and  sterling  bravery,  the 
people  know  well  that  it  would  never  do  to  trifle  with  him ;  and,  added  to 
this,  he  is  worth  some  twenty  or  twenty-five  thousand  dollars;  being  quite 
judiciously  invested,  enables  him  to  realize  an  income  of  at  least  three  or 
four  thousand  a  year,  at  least  three-fourths  of  which  he  gives  away — not  in 
the  form  of  common  charities  altogether,  but  gifts  in  the  shape  of  loans  to 
deserving  beginners.  In  this  way  his  popularity  among  a  great  many  is  solid, 
not  only  with  those  whom  he  has  benefited,  but  others,  whose  respect  for 
such  unostentatious  nobleness  is  challenged  and  secured. 

Well,  he  is  the  man  we  need.  He  will  go  into  the  scheme  with  heart  and 
soul.  His  plan  is,  receive  orders  for  a  stanch,  swift  sea-steamer  from  a  South 
American  power,  have  her  quietly  and  expeditiously  built,  manned  with  the 
right  kind  of  a  crew,  give  out  that  he  is  going  with  her,  let  her  take  in  a 
cargo  of  just  such  articles  as  we  need  at  present — boots,  shoes,  &c. — sail,  and 
enter  the  first' Southern  port  that  looks  clear.  I  would  here  remark,  that  his 
plan  is  to  have  three,  just  such  steamers  under  way  at  the  same  time.  Either 
this,  or  he  will  buy — each,  however,  from  different  points.  Marine  signal 
No.  8  (eight)  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America  will  be  used  upon  entrance 
of  our  port.  This,  you  remember,  is  the  plan  agreed  upon  to  deceive  the 
blockade  fleet. 

The  day  after  my  arrival  in  this  place  I  was  accosted  by  a  venerable  old 
beggar,  who  stood  at  a  corner  soliciting  alms.  His  touching  tone  of  voice, 
coupled  with  his  meek  yet  respectful  appearance,  although  in  rags,  attracted 
and  interested  me.  I  gave  him  a  dime,  and  asked  him  carelessly  where  he 
lived,  with  no  intention,  however,  of  paying  him  a  visit,  but  hardly  knowing 
what  to  say,  and  feeling  I  ought  to  say  something. 

He  replied,  "  You  aint  got  any  Jeames  River  tobacky,  I  reckon,  to  give  a 
fellow  a  chaw." 

Imagine  my  surprise  when  my  beggar  friend  proved  to  be  our  old  Nebo. 
Cute  as  ever,  he  plies  his  artful  game.  He  tells  me  that  he  was  in  Washing 
ton  last  week ;  says  old is  drunk  one-half  his  time.  and are 

laying  up  big  piles  of  United  States  money  both  for  themselves  and  friends, 

though is  the  sharpest  in  the  way  of  money.     That  old  stupid  fool, , 

ia  soinpletely  under  the  thumb  of ,  ditto. 

says  that,  unsuspectingly,  he  has  been  permitted  to  enter  hoth  th« 


UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

civil  and  military  department  in  Washington  and  Alexandria.  As  his  means 
of  communicating  with  head-quarters  is  so  very  expeditious  and  complete,  I 
deem  it  both  impolitic  and  unnecessary  to  detail,  in  this  communication,  the 
^ast  amount  of  useful  information  which  he  is  enabled  to  pick  up.  One  thing 
I  must  mention.  He  says  that  in  less  than  three  months  we  will  have  Phila 
delphia  and  Baltimore.  He  says  that  as  soon  as  the  advance  is  made  upon 
the  -ines  at  W.,  a  party  here,  now  numbering  over  five  thousand,  in  this  cit/, 
together  with  -thrice  that  number  in  the  adjoining  counties,  will  seize  the 
Navy  Yard,  Arsenal,  &c.  His  experience  tallies  with  mine,  that  is,  that  New 
Jersey  is  sound  to  the  back-bone  for  us:  yes,  far  more  so  than  Delaware, 
Although  a  Southern  State. 

I  am  afraid  to  advise  you  to  take  that  trip,  for,  notwithstanding  the  cleilcai 
cut  of  my  coat,  I  am  watched  very  closely,  as  are  all  strangers,  by  the  Govern 
ment  spies.  The  people  are  heartily  sick  and  tired  of  this  war,  but  are  afraid  to 
utter  such  sentiments,  it  being  treason,  or  so  ruled  by  that  drunken  thief, . 

Nebo  says  that  whenever needs  money  he  sends  ahead  some  startling 

telegraph  communications,  manufactured,  as  a  matter  of  course.  Soon  the 
streets  of  Philadelphia  and  New  York  ring  with  the  cry  of  extras :  "  Glorious 
news  (in  big  letters).  Fifty  thousand  secessionists  routed  by  a  Union  force 
of  only  one  hundred  and  fifty.  We  took  thirty  thousand  prisoners,  two  hun 
dred  and  seventy-five  thousand  stand  of  arms,  one  thousand  four  hundred 
cannon,  and  an  immense  stock  of  ammunition.  The  rebel  general  shot  in  the 
mouth  by  a  Buck-tail,  which  would  have  proved  fatal,  but  just  as  the  ball  hit 
him  he  spit  out  a  quid  of  tobacco,  which  turned  the  ball  aside.  It,  however, 
glanced  from  the  quid  and  killed  a  colonel  and  eleven  privates.  Our  loss 
(Union) — two  killed,  three  wounded,  one  missing.1' 

Such,  my  dear  general,  is  the  windy  stuff  which uses  to  draw  money 

out  of  the  Wall  Street  kings.  Verily,  this  is  a  humbuggy  age.  To  my  mind 
it  is  past  my  comprehension  how  the  t\vo  sections  can  ever  meet  together, 
even  in  ordinary  intercourse.  You  can  form  no  conception  of  the  bitter  feel 
ing  of  hostility  entertained  by  all  classes  here.  An  instance  or  two  will 
suffice.  An  interesting  pious  family,  whose  savory  discourse  did  my  soul  much 
good  in  its  growth  in  grace,  &c.,  &c.,  whose  hospitality  I  often  enjoyed,  one 
day  last  week,  in  making  a  call,  I  found  them  much  excited.  Upon  inquiring 
the  cause,  Miss  Annie  informed  me  that  they  had  just  learned  that  the  bonnet- 
maker  was  a  vile  secessionist.  I  straightened  my  eye-brows,  turned  up  my 
whites,  and  made  an  appropriate  pious  ejaculation,  and  inquired  how  she  had 
made  the  discovery.  By  accident,  sir.  Well,  to  sift  the  testimony  from  their 

verbiage,  Mrs.  ,  a  poor  widow,  who  makes  a  living  for  herself  and 

children  in  the  bonnet  business,  had  been  so  imprudent  as  to  say  to  my  friend, 
u  Well.  I  hope  if  they  do  liberate  the  negroes,  they  will  make  some  provision 
for  their  support,  for  they  will  no  longer  have  their  owners  to  look  to."  Now, 
for  this  vile  secession  (!!!),  my  pious  friends  are  determined  not  to  pay  their 
bonnet-bills  until  the  war  is  over.  Don't  you  admire  their  spunk  ?  The  other 
instance  is  this  : — A  pious  elder  in  one  of  the  Presbyterian  churches  here  has 
a  daughter  married  to  a  Southern  elder,  who  is  in  the  Southern  army;  and  so 
bitter  is  his  feeling,  that  neither  daughter,  child,  1101  husband  is  ever  alluded 


SECESSION    PICTURES   OF   THE    NORTH.  1Q7 

to,  even  [in]  lii^  prayers.  Indeed,  my  dear  sir,  the  spirit  of  the  wolf,  the 
byena,  ay,  rattlesnake,  and  all  vicious  animals,  are  let  loose  in  the  hearts  of 
this  people.  There  is  no  language  sufficiently  strong  to  describe  the  malignity 
of  their  feelings.  Ages  hence  will  this  feeling  burn.  I  thought  some  of  our 
Hotspurs  went  far  in  their  expressions  of  hatred  and  contempt,  but  it  don't 
begin  to  touch  bottom  with  Philadelphians.  But  with  all  this,  I  understand 
that  we  have  a  goodly  heritage  in  this  city  and  its  vicinity.  Old  Nebo  tells 
me  that  there  -is  now  in  process  of  completion  a  scheme  to  he  inaugurated 
soon  upon  a  grand  scale.  It  contemplates  the  seizure  of  Philadelphia.  He 
says  there  is  over  three  millions  of  dollars  invested.  He  could  not  make  me 
acquainted  with  the  particulars.  They  are  called  the  u  Regulators."  He  saya 
that  several  prominent  military  men  have  it  [in]  charge.  It  embraces  New 
Jersey  and  Delaware.  I  find,  however,  I  am  repeating  what  I  have  already 
cvritten  in  this  letter. 

Dr. 's  church,  during  the  week,  is  turned  into  a  tailor  shop.     The 

Doctor  is  a  strong  coercionist  in  the  pulpit;  in  the  parlor  he  is  a  secessionist, 

or,  I  should  say,  an  apologist  for  that  vile  heresy,  Dr. ,  ditto,  Dr. , 

ditto,  and  many  others,  who  were  converted  during  the  days  of  terror  last 
April,  when  our  friend  Bob  escaped  the  halter  in  Philadelphia.  Thousands 
here  entertain  earnest  and  anxious  desires  for  peace,  but  dare  not  utter  their 
thoughts  even  to  their  nearest  kin.  In  rny  clerical  capacity  I  say,  that  this 
people  is  given  over  not  only  to  believe  a  lie,  but  lies.  The  truth  is  too  tame 
and  commonplace.  They  are  confident  that  ten  of  their  men  can  beat  and  put 
to  rout  one  hundred  of  the  South.  I  then  ask  them  why  their  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  which  outnumbers  the  South,  don't  move,  and  crush  Beauregard. 
They  say,  "  Oh,  that  is  the  fault  of  politicians."  As  an  Englishman,  some 
avoid  and  wheedle  me.  Your  obedient  servant, 

THOMAS,  the  D.  D. 

I  will  be  in  Cleveland  ten  days  from  time  first  noted. 

The  following  is  a  copy  from  a  letter  which  accompanied 
the  former,  in  similar  handwriting  : — 

PHILADELPHIA,  December  27,  1861. 

DEAR  PHIL — Joe  tells  me  that  you  are  about  Sin  sin  naughty,  as  he  drawls 
it  out.  I  detained  this  to  say  a  word  about  the  M.  and  G.  difficulty ;  but  you 
see  the  papers— all  bosh.  Send  word  by  this,  if  you  choose,  that  it  will  end 
in  wnok3--a  flash  iu  the  pan.  You  can  read  and  remember  as  much  of  the 
inclosed  as  you  can.  Be  sure  to  note  the  figures,  as  they  mark  the  name  of 
the  Sea  Dog.  Burn  the  letter  unless  you  can  safely  carry,  and  then  get  in 
your  hole  and  skeet  for  Dixie.  It  ought  to  have  gone  before,  but  I  was  far 
away  when  F.  was  here,  and  did  not  see  him.  Oh,  how  these  Northern 
papers  lie  about  us.  Joe  is  a  sergeant  in  a  company  of  one  of  the  regiments 
here— will  start  for  Washington  soon.  If  he  gets  on  picket  duty  he  will  com 
municate.  Direct  your  letters  to  Rev. ,  D.  D.  (be  sure  to  put  the  D.  D.), 

of  Bath,  England.     Good-by,  and  G.  B.  Y. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

DISLOYALTY  AMONG  THE  POSTMASTERS. 

A  Mystery — The  Result  of  Cabinet  Meetings  in  Washington  known  in  Richmoid— 
The  Detectives  learn  the  Reason' — A  Visit  to  Lower  Maryland — Amusing  Si-enea 
— The  Mysterious  Box — The  Reports — A  Rebel  Letter. 

IT  was  a  surprising  fact  during  the  first  six  or  eight 
months  after  the  war  began,  that  the  result  of  every  Cabinet 
meeting  at  Washington  was  reported  in  Richmond  within 
twenty-four  hours  after  it  was  held.  The  secret  was,  that 
every  postmaster  in  Lower  Maryland,  comprising  the  coun 
ties  of  St.  Charles,  St.  George,  and  St.  Mary's,  with  three 
exceptions,  were  disloyal.  It  had  been  taken  for  granted 
that  the  State  was  true  to  the  Government,  while  rebel  emis 
saries  were  constantly  conveying  information  from  Washing 
ton  to  the  post-offices  along  the  Potomac,  from  which  it  was 
transmitted  to  Fredericksburg  by  blockade-runners  and 
spies,  and  thence  telegraphed  to  Richmond.  By  this  arrange 
ment,  uninterrupted  and'  unrestrained  communication  was 
kept  open  between  the  rebels  North  and  South  until  Novem 
ber  20.  1861,  when  I  decided,  if  possible,  to  break  up  the 
treasonable  correspondence.  Accordingly,  the  Secretary  of 
War  directed  that  three  companies,  of  one  hundred  men  each, 
from  the  Third  Indiana  Cavalry,  then  in  General  Hooker's 
division  at  Budd'  s  Ferry,  be  detached,  and  report  to  me  for 
the  purpose  of  visiting  and,  if  necessary,  permanently  occu 
pying  Lower  Maryland. 

The  first  post-office  upon  which  I  called  was  at  Chaptico, 
a  small  village  at  the  head  of  a  bay  of  the  Potomac,  bearing 
the  same  name,  and  about  sixty  miles  from  Washington.  I 
reached  the  village  late  one  afternoon,  when  an  amusing 
incident  occurred,  illustrating  the  ignorance  in  the  country 
generally,  more  profound,  perhaps,  in  some  portions  of  it 


THE   MYSTERIOUS   BOX.  109 

respecting  military  affairs,  resulting  from  the  peaceful  pur 
suits  of  the  people  during  a  long  period  of  declining  martial 
spirit  and  demonstrations. 

The  iirst  military  seen  in  Chaptico  was  my  advent  with 
three  hundred  of  u  Uncle  Sam's  boys,"  which  naturally  cre 
ated  intense  excitement  among  this  rural  people. 

My  force  was  composed  principally  of  Germans,  who  be 
came  brave  soldiers  subsequently  in  the  western  battle 
fields.  They  were  addicted,  of  course,  to  the  use  of  intoxi 
cating  drinks  ;  hence  it  was  necessary  to  encamp  apart  from 
places  where  liquors  were  sold.  I  entered  the  town  with  my 
orderly,  to  notify  all  vendors  of  strong  drink  to  close  their 
bars,  and  under  no  circumstances  to  sell  to  the  soldiers  under 
my  command. 

In  the  evening,  to  my  surprise,  when  passing  one  of  the 
drinking-houses,  I  found  it  full  of  troops  who,  with  the  land 
lord,  were  having  a  jolly  time  over  their  potations. 

I  immediately  stepped  in  and  inquired  of  the  host : 

"Did  I  not  give  you  an  order  not  to  sell  liquor  to  my 
men?" 

"  Why,  Colonel,"  he  said,  "  these  ain't  no  soldiers  ;  they 
are  officers.  They  have  got  swords  on." 

Officers  generally  wearing  swords,  the  cavalrymen  thua 
armed  deceived  the  benighted  dealer  in  poor  whisky  and 
beer.  He  was  sure  that  he  was  honored  with  men  quite 
above  common  soldiering. 

I  proceeded  to  the  post-office,  and  found  the  postmaster 
sick  and  all  the  family  in  about  the  same  plight,  excepting  a 
bright  little  girl,  twelve  years  of  age. 

1  rapped  at  the  door,  when  she  raised  the  window  and 
said: 

"Father  told  me  I  must  not  let  any  of  the  Yankee  sol 
diers  in." 

I  replied  :  "  I  am  not  a  Yankee  soldier,  but  an  agent  of 
the  Post-offi.ce  Department." 

I  was  then  admitted ;  and  asked  where  the  office  was 
kept.  She  pointed  to  a  box  of  pigeon  holes.  While  exam 
ining  it,  I  accidentally  observed  a  rough  pine  box  with  iron 
hasp  and  hinges  and  a  United  States  mail  lock.  It  was  par 
titioned  through  the  center,  with  a  hole  for  letters  in  each 


HO  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

division.     Over  one  part  was  "  Southern  Letters  ;"  over  th<- 
other,  ' '  Northern  Letters. ' ' 

I  said  :   "  What  is  this  box  for  ?" 

She  innocently  answered,  pointing  to  the  inscriptions  : 

"  Why,  the  letters  put  in  that  hole  (the  Southern)  go  to 
Richmond  ;  and  those  in  the  other  go  to  Washington." 

The  postmaster,  who  was  in  bed,  overhearing  her,  spoke 
somewhat  excitedly : 

"No,  that  ain't  so  ;  why  do  you  tell  the  gentleman  such 
a  story?" 

I  answered  :   "I  guess  the  girl  tells  the  truth." 

Taking  the  box,  which,  upon  examination,  was  found  to 
contain  letters  from  rebels  on  the  way  to  the  Confederacy, 
and  those  whose  hearts,  if  not  their  faces,  were  toward  rebel- 
dom,  I  placed  it  in  the  Post-office  Department  at  Washing 
ton  as  a  curiosity,  where  it  still  remains. 

At  L.,  the  largest  village  in  all  that  part  of  Lower  Mary 
land,  another  amusing  incident  occurred.  It  had  long  been 
the  residence  of  aristocratic  families.  A  weekly  newspaper 
was  published  there — a  paper  which  was  pre-eminent  in  fan 
ning  the  fires  of  rebellion  throughout  that  region. 

Arriving  within  two  miles  of  the  town  at  evening,  I  en 
camped  in  a  grove  of  pines.  With  a  captain,  sergeant,  and 
two  orderlies  I  rode  into  the  village,  and  found  the  people 
had  heard  of  our  arrival.  The  principal  men  of  the  place 
waited  upon  me  and  protested  in  the  most  violent  manner 
against  Yankee  troops  disturbing  their  peace  ;  for  they  were 
"  State-rights  people,  who  only  wished  to  be  let  alone." 
They  made  threats  of  personal  violence  if  my  soldiers  were 
brought  into  Leonardtown. 

I  replied:  u  I  am  here  under  orders  of  the  Secretary  of 
War,  on  a  peaceful  investigation,  and  not  as  charged,  to  steal 
your  slaves,  to  burn  your  houses  and  barns,  or  to  molest 
the  inhabitants.  I  have  money  to  pay  for  forage  and  ration* 
if  you  will  sell  them  ;  if  not,  shall  take  them." 

By  this,  time  the  editor  of  the  paper  had  become  bois 
terous  in    his  condemnation  of   the  Government    and    !<& 
officers.     I  quietly  directed  a  guard  to  be  placed  arouni  ilia 
printing-office.      Selecting  from  my  command  Jud^t  L  .  of 


A    SUDDEN    CONVERSION.  HI 

Cleveland,  Ohio,  an  officer  who  had  some  experience  as  an 
editor,  I  directed  him  to  write  an  article  for  the  paper,  in 
which  the  rebel  editor  was  made  to  recant  his  secession 
heresy  and  declare  for  the  Union,  advising  all  his  sub 
scribers  to  do  the  same.  The  compositors  were  compelled 
to  set  it  up,  and  then  the  pressmen  reluctantly  struck  off  the 
paper.  The  subscription  book  was  consulted,  and  to  each 
name  a  copy  of  the  paper  was  mailed.  The  excitement  and 
indignation  which  followed  the  distribution  of  the  suddenly 
loyal  sheet,  and  the  discovery  of  the  serious  joke,  made  one 
of  the  most  ludicrous  incidents  in  my  official  experience. 
The  further  results  of  this  expedition  are  presented  in  the 
subjoined  note  and  reports  : 

WASHINGTON,  November  25, 1861. 
Brigadier-General  HOOKER,  Commanding  at  Budd's  Ferry: 

DEAR  SIR — The  expedition  under  my  command  to  the  lower  coast  of 
Maryland  has  proved  successful.  We  captured  four  mounted  traitors  and  one 
rebel  spy.,  Mr.  Seward  is  much  gratified  at  the  promptness  with  which  you 
responded  to  the  orders  given  to  me.  Also  obtained  many  valuable  letters 
and  documents,  from  which  important  results  will  follow.  To  Captain 
Keister  and  Lieutenant  Lemon,  I  am  under  many  obligations;  I  found  them 
very  prompt  and  ready  to  act  at  all  times.  The  men  under  their  command 
conducted  themselves  with  the  greatest  propriety.  A  detachment  of  sixteen 
men,  as  a  guard,  accompanied  me  by  steamer  ma  Baltimore  to  this  city.  1 
return  them  to  their  quarters  to-day.  Allow  me  to  return  you  my  thanks  for 
your  extreme  kindness  to  me  during  my  short  stay  at  your  headquarters. 

Yours,  truly, 

L.    C.  BAKER. 


WASHINGTON,  November  27, 1861. 

To  the  Hon.  WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State : 

DEAR  SIR — In  compliance  with  orders  issued  from  your  Department^ 
under  date  of  November  18th,  I  repaired  to  the  headquarters  of  Brigadier- 
General  Hooker,  at  or  near  Budd's  Ferry,  and  was  promptly  furnished  with 
one  hundred  men  from  the  Third  Indiana  Cavalry,  under  command  of  Captain 
Keister.  The  ooject  of  the  expedition  was  to  arrest  parties  suspected  of 
rendering  aid  to  Virginia  rebels,  to  discover  the  channel  through  which  con 
traband  correspondence  was  being  carried  on,  and,  if  necessary,  to  take  into 
custody  any  persons  found  in  arms  against  the  United  States  Government. 
On  my  arrival  at  Port  Tobacco,  the  headquarters  of  Colonel  Graham's  regi 
ment,  I  found  the  inhabitants  complaining  bitterly  at  their  alleged  ill-treat 
ment,  and  depredations  committed  by  the  soldiers  under  his  command.  In 
justice  to  Colonel  G.,  however,  I  found,  on  inquiring,  that  the  inhabitants 


112  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

had  been  the  first  aggressors.  There  are  residing  at  this  place  but  ionr 
or  five  Union  men — the  balance  either  being  sympathizers  with  secessionists, 
or  open  and  avowed  aiders  and  abettors  of  treason.  The  postmaster  at  this 
place  is  secretly  doing  all  in  his  power  to  further  the  interests  of  the  Con 
federacy.  Eight  miles  from  the  above-named  locality  is  a  small  town,  known 
as  Allen's  Fresh.  There  are  but  two  Union  men  at  this  place.  I  found 
in  the  post-office  here  five  letters,  addressed  to  fictitious  names:  on  opening 
them,  I  discovered  that  they  contained  sealed  letters,  addressed  to  well-known 
secessionists  in  Virginia,  The  postmaster  was  one  of  those  who  assisted  and 
contributed  to  organize  and  equip  Confederate  soldiers  now  in  Virginia.  At  the 
Newport  post-office,  some  two  miles  from  Allen's  Fresh.  I  found  a  package 
of  thirty-four  letters,  post-marked  vt  Newport  P.  O.,  Maryland,'1  all  ready  to 
be  forwarded  to  different  localities  at  the  North.  On  examining  these  letters, 
[  found  that  they  were  all  written  in  Virginia,  and  had  all  been  dropped  into 
the  office  by  one  person.  At  Chaptico,  a  place  of  about  two  or  three  hundred 
inhabitants,  located  at  the  head  of  a  small  inlet  opening  into  the  Potomac, 
I  found  but  four  Union  men,  the  traitors  at  this  point  having  threatened  to 
hang  and  burn  the  property  of  any  man  who  dares  to  avow  Union  sentiments. 
At  this  point,  there  lias  been  carried  on  for  months  a  regular  communication 
with  Virginia.  The  postmaster  here  openly  declares  himself  a  traitor;  1 
should  have  placed  him  under  arrest,  but  found  him  confined  in  his  bed  with 
chills  and  fever,  besides  having  a  large  family  depending  on  him  for  their 
daily  support.  I  next  stopped  at  Leonardtown.  This  is  the  largest  and  by 
far  the  most  prosperous  village  in  Lower  Maryland.  I  do  not  consider  it  safe 
to  say  that  there  is  one  Union  man  in  the  town  or  vicinity,  although  many 
declare  themselves  State  Rights  Men,  which  is  but  a  milder  term  for  secession 
ists.  At  this  place  has  been  enlisted,  equipped,  and  conveyed  to  Virginia,  a 
very  large  number  of  men  for  the  Confederate  army.  But  very  few  hesitate 
to  declare  openly  their  secession  sentiments;  I  think  this  is  attributable 
almost  wholly  to  the  publication  of  a  bitter  and  uncompromising  secession 
paper,  published  in  this  place.  I  found  in  the  post-office  a  large  number  of 
letters  going  to  and  coming  from  Virginia.  The  postmaster,  a  Mr.  Yates, 
declared  himself  to  me  a  good  Union  man;  I,  howevem  afterward  obtained 
the  most  undenialle  proof  of  his  disloyalty  to  the  Government  and  svmpa- 
thy  with  the  rebels.  I  think  that  Leonardtown  should  be  at  once  placed 
under  martial  law,  and  a  provost-marshal  appointed,  in  order  that  the  tew 
Union  men  residing  there  may  have  some  kind  of  protection  a-rainst  these 
traitois.  From  Leonardtown  I  went  to  Great  Mills,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles. 
There  are  but  few  inhabitants  residing  directly  on  the  road,  the  population 
being  mostly  on  the  Potomac  and  Pawtuxent  rivers.  Daily  steamboat  com 
munication  from  Baltimore  to  Millstone  Landing  (a  point  on  the  Pawtuxent 
river,  near  its  mouth)  has,  in  my  opinion,  made  this  the  most  important  point 
in  Lower  Maryland.  That  you  may  more  readily  understand  with  what 
facilities  correspondence  and  goods  of  all  descriptions  have  and  are  being 
transported  into  Virginia  by  this  route,  I  annex  a  map  of  the  country.  The 
distance  from  Millstone  Landing,  on  the  Pawtuxent,  to  Redmond's  Landing, 
at  the  head  of  St.  Mary's  river  (four  ir:l.es  from  the  Potomac),  is  but  eight 


REBELS  IX  SOUTHERN  MARYLAND.  113 

rniWs,  the  road  being  excellent  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  There  are  but  four 
or  five  Uniou  men  in  this  vicinity ;  most  of  those  who  have  declared  thorn- 
selves  as  such  have  either  been  driven  from  the  county,  or  dare  not  avow 
themselves  in  favor  of  the  Government.  A  number  are  now  residing  in  the 
neighborhood  who  hold  commissions  in  the  rebel  army.  It  is,  however, 
exceedingly  difficult  to  arrest  them;  the  approach  of  any  considerable  number 
of  troops  is  a  signal  for  these  cheats  to  leave  their  houses,  or  secrete  them 
selves,  and  it  can  only  be  accomplished  by  the  most  shrewd  and  well-laid 
plans.  I  made  the  following  arrests,  viz. :  E.  H.  J.,  W.  M.  A.,  E.  M.  S.,  and 
R.  L.  II.  These  men  were  a  part  of  an  organization  known  as  the  Lower 
Maryland  Vigilance  Committee. 

Mr.  E.  II.  J.  resides  at  what  is  known  as  the  Old  Factory,  St.  Mary's 
County,  is  engaged  in  merchandising,  farming,  &c.  When  the  present  diffi 
culties  broke  out,  J.  went  to  Baltimore,  and  was  there  during  the  riot  of 
April  19th.  On  his  return  hence,  he  brought  not  less  than  four  hundred 
stands  of  arms  from  Baltimore,  which  afterward  were  sent  to  Virginia.  He 
has  had  wagons  for  hauling  contraband  goods  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Pa- 
tuxent,  during  the  greater  part  of  the  summer  and  fall.  He  made  his  house 
the  headquarters  of  secession  spies,  passing  to  and  from  Virginia;  has  enlisted, 
equipped,  and  forwarded  a  large  number  of  men  for  the  Confederacy ;  has 
notified  Union  men  to  leave  the  county  ;  and  has,  on  all  occasions,  cursed  and 
abused  the  Government. 

D.  W.  M.  A.  resides  about  one  mile  from  J.,  openly  defies  the  Govern 
ment,  was  a  co-operator  with  J.  in  all  his  treasonable  operations  ;  is  said 
to  be  the  secretary  of  the  Vigilance  Committee,  and  stated  to  me,  after  his 
arrest,  that  he  would  yet  kill  a  Yankee  for  every  day  that  he  was  imprisoned 
by  the  Government. 

E.  M.  S.  is  a  Confederate  spy.     He  was  indicted  by  the  Baltimore  grand 
jury  for  engaging  in  the  riot  of  the  19th  of  April,  but  made  his  escape  into 
Virginia,  and,  up  to  the  time  of  his  arrest,  had  kept  out  of  the  way.     Some 
memorandums  of  importance  were  found  in  his  possession. 

The  arrest  of  B.  L.  H.  will  prove  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the 
Government.  II.  resided  at  the  landing  on  the  Patwxent  River,  and 
made  bis  hotel  the  rendezvous  for  all  the  secessionists  in  the  county.  At  his  * 
house  were  held  all  their  meetings  and  deliberations.  lie  had  two  team? 
constantly  running  from  the  landing  to  the  Potomac  River.  I  have  the  most 
positive  proof  that,  the  night  before  his  arrest,  he  took  three  hundred  Colt 
revolvers  to  Virginia;  I  found  two  large  boxes  buried  in  the  sand,  about  two 
hundred  yards  from  his  house,  from  which  he  took  these  revolvers.  Mrs. 
II.  informed  me  that  she  had  frequently  cautioned  her  husband  that  he  would 
yet  be  caught  and  imprisoned  by  the  Government,  but  he  disregarded  her 
advice,  and  told  her  that  he  was  determined  to  make  money  in  some  way. 
Some  letters  were  found  in  his  possession  of  the  strongest  secession  character, 
also  Confederate  envelopes,  stamps,  circulars,  &c.  H.  was  the  master  spirit, 
ar.d  the  worst  man  in  the  county. 

Much  difficulty  was  experienced    in    making  these  arrests.     The  county 
is  wild  and  unsettled;  a  complete* set  of  signals  had  been  established  among 


UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

the  inhabitants,  and  notice  of  our  arrival  had  been  given  to  the  entire  country, 
making  it  necessary  to  move  only  at  night-time.  I  endeavored,  stating  that, 
as  soon  as  the  troops  left,  their  building  would  be  burned,  and  they  them 
selves  assassinated  or  hung  by  the  Committee. 

I  am  much  indebted  for  my  success  to  Brigadier-General  Hooker,  for  his 
promptness  in  furnishing  men ;  to  Captain  Keister,  for  the  energy,  patience, 
and  promptness  with  which  he  aided  me  at  all  times;  to  A.  G.  Lawrence, 
Esq.,  who  accompanied  me  from  this  city,  for  the  very  efficient  aid  and 
advice  he  gave  at  all  times.  Some  small-arms,  two  kegs  of  rifle  powder, 
secession  flags,  and  other  articles  were  seized. 

Since  my  return,  I  have  had  some  conversation  with  the  Postmaster- 
General  in  relation  to  mail  matters.  When  I  go  down  again,  he  has  autho 
rized  me  to  displace  all  disloyal  postmasters,  and  if  safe  and  reliable  Union 
men  can  be  found,  to  recommend  them  for  appointment ;  if  such  can  not  be 
found,  discontinue  the  offices  altogether.  This  course,  I  have  no  doubt,  will 
induce  them  to  better  regard  and  appreciate  the  favors  they  have  and  are 
still  receiving  from  the  Government.  In  order  that  the  channels  of  commu 
nication  with  the  South  may  be  effectually  broken  up,  and  protection 
afforded  to  Union  men  in  Charles  and  St.  Mary's  counties,  I  would  most 
respectfully  recommend  that  a  military  force  be  sent  there  at  once.  Two  or 
three  hundred  men  could  subsist  themselves  and  horses,  without  being  com 
pelled  to  transport  forage.  Should  you  deem  it  proper  or  advisable  to  send 
such  a  force,  I  would  gladly  go  with  them,  and  render  all  the  assistance  in 
my  power.  Asking  pardon  for  this  my  lengthy  communication, 
I  remain,  dear  Sir,  most  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

L.  C.  BAKER. 


WASHINGTON,  January  14,  1862 

To  the  Honorable  POSTMASTER-GENERAL: — 

DEAR  SIR — At  your  request,  I  herewith  send  report  of  the  condition  in 
which  I  found  the  several  post-offices  located  in  Charles  and  St.  Mary's 
counties,  Maryland.  At  Port  Tobacco,  numerous  and  repeated  complaints 
liave  been  forwarded  to  me  by  detective  agents  of  the  Government,  concerning 
the  loyalty  of  the  postmaster  at  this  place.  Charges  of  the  most  grave  and 
aggravated  character  have  been  made  by  the  few  Union  men  residing  in  this 
vicinity.  On  investigation,  I  found  that  he  has,  on  three  different  occasions, 
received  packages  of  letters,  post-marked  at  Baltimore,  and  forwarded  same 
to  Virginia.  On  or  about  the  15th  October,  a  Confederate  spy  mailed  at  this 
office  one  hundred  and  forty  letters,  which  he  (the  spy)  brought  direct  from 
Virginia.  This  was  done  with  the  full  knowledge  and  consent  of  the  post 
master.  In  addition  to  this,  he  has  aided  and  advised  a  number  of  young 
men  in  the  neighborhood  to  cross  the  river  and  join  the  Confederate  army. 

Allen's  Fresh. — The  postmaster  at  this  place  seldom  if  ever  attends  per 
sonally  to  the  duties  of  the  office,  but  leaves  the  business  in  the  hands  of  a 
young  boy,  some  twelve  or  fourteen  years  old.  I  found  in  this  office  nice 


MARYLAND   POSTMASTERS.  115 

uncalled-for  letters,  having  been  addressed  to  fictitious  names ;  on  opening 
them,  I  found  they  were  addressed  to  individuals  in  the  so-called  Confederate 
States.  The  postmaster  in  this  place  is  disloyal  and  can  not  be  trusted. 

Newport. — In  this  office,  I  found  a  package  of  fifty-two  letters,  written 
by  parties  now  residing  in  the  rebel  States,  addressed  to  persons  in  Baltimore. 
The  postmaster  is  a  first-class  rebel.  In  my  opinion,  this  office  could  be 
discontinued,  it  being  located  but  two  miles  from  Allen's  Fresh. 

Charlotte's  Hall. — But  one  contraband  letter  was  found  in  this  office.  The 
postmaster  assures  me  that  he  is  a  good  Union  man,  and  is  doing  all  he  can  to 
assist  and  forward  the  interests  of  the  Government.  I  think  him  a  highly 
intelligent  gentleman,  but  hardly  sound. 

Oakville. — This  office  is  located  in  a  thrifty,  settled  community,  and  19  but 
of  little  importance;  being  some  distance  from  the  Potomac,  has  less  facilities 
than  other  offices  for  conducting  contraband  mail  matter.  I  consider  the 
postmaster  a  loyal,  good,  and  reliable  man. 

Chaptico. — From  the  peculiar  location  of  this  office  (being  situated  at  the 
head  of  Chaptico  Bay),  the  postmaster  has  very  superior  facilities  for  con 
ducting  a  large  contraband  business,  which  he  has  not  failed  to  improve  tc 
a  greater  extent  than  any  other  officer  in  Lower  Maryland.  Indeed,  he 
openly  boasts  that  he  holds  two  appointments  as  postmaster — one  from 
Washington,  and  one  from  Richmond.  A  large  number  of  contraband  letters 
were  found  in  his  office.  In  addition  to  this,  he  is  an  habitual  drunkard, 
neglecting  the  duties  of  his  office;  he  has  repeatedly  neglected  to  lock  the 
mail-bag;  has  often  left  the  key  in  the  bag,  and  often  refused  to  open  the 
mail  at  all.  From  the  importance  of  this  office,  it  could  hardly  be  dis 
continued  without  a  positive  injury  to  a  large  number  of  good  and  loyal 
citizens. 

Leonardtown. — This  is  the  largest  village  or  town  in  Lower  Maryland. 
Charges  of  disloyalty  have  repeatedly  been  made  against  the  postmaster  of 
this  place,  many  of  which  I  have  thoroughly  investigated.  He  (Yates)  styles 
himself  a  State  Rights  man,  which  is  but  a  mild  term  for  secession.  A 
number  of  contraband  letters  were  found  in  his  office,  but  he  positively  denies 
knowing  the  writers,  or  the  parties  to  whom  they  are  addressed.  The 
citizens  generally  speak  in  the  highest  terms  of  him,  and,  so  far  as  I  can 
judge,  the  office  was  well  managed.  Everything  seems  to  be  conducted 
with  a  great  deal  of  system  and  regularity.  As  no  better  man  could  b« 
induced  to  take  the  office,  I  should  think  a  change  not  advisable  at  present. 

Great  Mills. — This  is  an  office  of  some  importance,  being  located  midway 
between  the  Pawtuxent  river  and  the  head  of  St.  Mary's,  by  opening  directly 
into  the  Potomac.  In  September  last,  acting  under  an  order  from  your 
department,  I  seized  the  entire  contents  of  the  office.  About  one-fourth  of 
the  mail  was  directed  (under  cover)  to  the  Confederate  States.  I  think, 
however,  the  postmaster  is  a  loyal  citizen,  but  has  been  very  negligent  in  his 
duties.  Not  desiring  to  incur  the  hatred  of  the  secession  community  in  which 
he  resided,  he  has  allowed  letters  to  be  received  at  his  office  from  the  rebel 
States,  addressed  to  well-known  traitors,  without  reporting  the  same  to  the 
proper  authorities.  I  think  a  change  should  be  made  at  this  office  at  once. 


116  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

Saint  Inagoes.— This  office  is  of  but  little  importance  ;  but  few  letters 
received  or  mailed.  I  have  heard  no  complaints  against  the  postmaster  here, 
hence  I  conclude  he  is  loyal. 

From  the  very  meager  amount  realized,  I  have  found  it  exceedingly  diffi 
cult  to  find  good,  reliable,  loyal  men,  who  would  accept  the  appointment  of 
postmaster.  Many  who  are  competent  will  not  devote  the  necessary  tim«* 
required  to  perform  the  duties  of  the  office.  I  have,  however,  obtained  the 
names  and  consent  of  loyal  citizens  who  will  accept  an  appointment  tit  a 
number  of  the  offices  mentioned  in  this  report,  and,  as  soon  as  I  can  complete 
the  list,  I  shall  forward  the  same  to  your  department.  I  consider  it  a  matter 
of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  Government,  at  this  time,  that  our  post 
masters  should  be  loyal  and  true  to  the  Union,  particularly  when  their  offices 
can  by  any  possibility  be  used  in  any  manner  as  a  medium  to  convey  informa 
tion  to  the  Confederate  States.  To  discontinue  altogether  our  mail  facilities 
in  Lower  Maryland,  at  present  time,  would  result  in  a  great  inconvenience 
and  injury  to  the  few  loyal  people  residing  in  that  section,  as  well  as  our 
military  forces,  which,  at  my  suggestion,  have  been  stationed  along  the 
Potomac,  to  break  up  the  contraband  trade  so  successfully  carried  on  during 
the  past  summer. 

I  am,  most  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  L.  C.  BAKER. 

Special  Agent  P.  0.  Depart.,  and  Government  Detective. 


A  letter  which  was  intercepted  about  this  time  will  reveal 
the  demoniac  spirit  of  the  rebellion,  which,  1  regret  to  know, 
exists  still  to  an  alarming  extent  in  the  conquered  South  : — 


NANJE.MOT,  December  19,  1862. 
Dr.  HATLING: — 

I  expect  to  go  from  home  soon,  under  another  permit,  to  Nanjemoy,  and 
want  to  make  a  good  thing  of  it — better  than  before.  What  I  say  about  the 
permit,  is  confidential;  don't  forget. 

I  suppose  you  have  heard  but  little  of  the  truth  of  the  little  skirmish 
before  Fredericksburg.  Abolition,  with  Burnside  at  its  head,  was  somewhat 
scorched.  At  least  thirty  thousand  were  made  to  bite  the  dust.  The  strangled 
newspapers  on  this  side  dare  not  tell  half  the  truth.  I  have  my  information 
from  officers  and  men  who  were  on  the  field,  and  in  the  battle.  They  say  the 
slaughter  can  never  be  described  or  forgotten  by  those  who  saw  it.  Thej 
lay  by  thousands  upon  a  single  acre.  The  Southern  blood  was  fully  up; 
they  spared  nothing,  but  slew  the  cringing,  cowardly,  wiglish  Abolitionists 
with  an  unsparing  hand. 

The  Southern  loss  was  comparatively  small,  it  is  thought  not  over  fifteen 
hundred,  though  nothing  can  be  definitely  known,  yet  awhile,  on  the  subject, 
It  was  doubtless  the  greatest  slaughter  ever  made  on  this  continent.  But 


A   REBEL  LETTER.  117 

frill  it  teach  the  fools  at  Washington  wisdom?  I  hope  so.  Report  reached 
here  yesterday,  that  Burnside,  Stanton,  and  Halleck  have  resigned.  Lincoln, 
Seward,  &c.,  ought  to  follow  suit.  And  then  commence  and  hang  every 
Abolitionist  and  Black  Republican,  and  the  balance  may  have  some  peace 
The  sooner  this  is  done  the  better. 

vour  friend, 
(Signed >  £.  W.  0. 


CHAPTER    Vli. 

FRAUDS— DISLOYALTY  IN  MARYLAND. 

The  Freighted  Traveler — Treason  and  Frauds  overlooked  in  the  Rising  Storm  of 
Rebellion — The  Bankers — The  Pretty  Smuggler — Reliable  Character  of  thf 
Detective  Bureau — Disloyalty,  and  its  Punishments  in  Lower  Maryland — The 
Friends  of  Hon.  Montgomery  Blair  and  the  Quinine  Traffic  —  •*  Chunook ' 
Telegrama. 

THERE  was  about  this  time  a  rather  marked  illustration  of 
a  common  means  of  transporting  contraband  goods  across  the 
lines.  The  extent  to  which  such  methods  of  deception  were 
resorted  to  by  both  men  and  women  shows  the  stringency  of 
the  blockade  at  which  the  rebels  sneered  for  a  while,  and  the 
mania  for  speculation  amid  the  horrors  of  war. 

I  went  to  the  wharf  at  Baltimore  to  watch  the  movements 
of  a  suspicious  passenger  who  had  gone  just  before  me  to 
embark. 

He  succeeded  in  passing  the  scrutiny  of  Provost-Ma,rshal 
McPhail,  and  went  on  board  the  steamer  bound  South.  I 
followed  him,  and  became  satisfied  that  I  had  tracked  an  old 
offender.  I  accordingly  addressed  him,  when  he  denied  any 
disloyal  designs.  His  hat  had  a  peculiar  appearance — seemed 
heavier  than  it  ought  to  be.  Removing  it,  I  saw  that  the 
interior  was  conical  in  form,  the  base  fitting  his  head.  I 
struck  the  top  of  the  crown  upon  the  rail  of  the  boat,  when 
a  cloud  of  quinine  dust  rose  in  the  air.  The  rogue  stood 
disclosed  ;  and  my  first  business  was  to  secure  his  weapons 
of  defense,  if  he  had  any.  A  pistol  was  found  and  se  i.zed. 
This  weapon  and  the  knife  are  the  universal  means  of  pro 
tection,  and  used  in  ways  unknown  to  any  but  villains  and 
theii\  captors.  On  one  occasion  a  man  had  his  Deringf  r  in 
his  pantaloons  pocket,  and  with  his  hand  was  turning  it  to 
fire  at  me  through  his  pocket,  when  I  sprang  upon  him  and 
took  it. 


AN  ENTEKPEISING  TRAVELER.  H9 

The  brief  report,  which  will  give  further  particulars  in 
Wilson's  case,  alludes  to  the  search  for  him  in  Maryland, 
where,  to  escape  the  detectives,  he  sprang  from  a  window  in 
the  second  story  of  a  dwelling  and  got  away  : — 

WASHINGTON,  December  30,  1S6L 
To  the  Honorable  SECRETARY  OF  STATE: — 

DEAR  SIR — On  the  morning  of  the  19th  instant,  I  arrested,  on  board  the 
steamer  Mary  Washington,  in  Baltimore,  one  William  Wilson.  Upon  search 
ing  his  person,  I  found  concealed  in  his  overcoat  pocket  a  large  druggist's 
jar,  containing  three  ounces  of  quinine,  a  package  of  letters  addressed  to 
parties  in  Europe,  and  a  number  of  photographs.  I  also  found  in  Wilson's 
hat,  very  ingeniously  concealed,  twenty  ounces  of  quinine.  From  reliable 
information  received  since  the  arrest,  I  am  satisfied  that  Wilson  is  the 
notorious  "Bill  Wilson,"  of  St.  Mary's  county,  Maryland,  and  the  individual 
for  whose  arrest  the  Government  lately  offered  a  large  reward.  Wilson  had  on 
his  person  British  papers,  showing  that  he  had  traveled  in  Europe  as  an 
Englishman. 

He  is  now  confined  in  Fort  McHenry,  awaiting  the  orders  of  the  State 
Department. 

I  consider  him  a  very  dangerous  man  to  be  at  large. 

Yours,  very  respectfully, 

L.  0.  BAKER. 

The  storm  of  civil  war  came  so  suddenly  upon  us,  that  how 
to  meet  it  was  the  great,  absorbing  question.  The  Cabinet, 
Congress,  and  the  loyal  masses  at  the  North  were  intensely 
aroused  to  the  need  of  men  and  money  to  beat  back  the  wanton 
assault  of  treason  upon  our  nationality. 

Consequently,  scarcely  a  thought  was  given  to  the  possibility 
of  disloyalty  and  frauds  at  home.  The  eye  was  fixed  upon  the 
dark  horizon  of  Southern  revolt;  wThile  within  our  own 
brighter  one  were  plots  and  robberies  of  the  public  treasury, 
whose  disclosure  was  as  startling  as  it  was  sickening  to  every 
patriotic  heart. 

An  example  of  rebel  perfidy  aud  disregard  of  oaths  in  the 
highest  class  of  capitalists  was  discovered  toward  the  close  of 
1861.  The  house  of  J.,  Bros.  &  Co.,  bankers,  in  Baltimore, 
whose  business  previous  to  the  rebellion  was  principally  with 
Southern  banks,  applied  to  the  Hon.  Simon  Cameron  for  a 
permit  to  visit  friends  at  the  South.  Mr.  Cameron  had  known 
the  members  of  this  firm  to  be  of  the  first  respectability,  and 
gave  the  desired  pass. 


\'2()  UNITED   STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

After  this  was  used,  another  was  obtained,  until  a  large 
number  had  been  obtained  and  had  served  well  the  purpose 
of  the  enterprising  bankers. 

I  received  information  that  one  of  the  firm  was  engaged 
in  conveying  large  amounts  back  and  forth  in  connection 
with  the  banking  house  of  P.  M.,  Richmond ;  and  that  this 
means  was  resorted  to  for  the  transaction  of  business  which 
months  before  had  been  pronounced  contraband. 

I  determined  to  detect  the  offenders  in  the  act,  and  ex 
pose  their  disloyalty. 

Mr.  J.  was  arrested  at  the  Relay  House,  with  his  servant, 
and  upon  examination  of  his  baggage  a  large  amount  of 
exchange  and  rebel  correspondence  was  found. 

When  the  pass  taken  from  Mr.  J.  and  all  the  fticts  were 
presented  to  Mr.  Seward,  he  directed  the  seizure  of  the 
bank.  It  was  decided  to  make  a  thorough  examination  of 
the  vaults.  The  firm  refusing  to  give  up  the  keys  of  them, 
they  were  broken  open,  and  revealed  the  shameful  truth 
that  the  house  had  been  for  months  acting  contrary  to  a  well- 
known  order  of  the  President  prohibiting  trade  with  the 
South. 

The  next  day  I  was  directed  by  Mr.  Seward  to  visit  the 
War  Department  by  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.  I  repaired  ac 
cordingly  to  his  office,  and  was  ushered  into  the  presence  of 
President  Lincoln,  Secretaries  Seward  and  Cameron,  and 
Thomas  A.  Scott,  and  requested  to  identify  the  passes  issued 
to  J.  I  cannot  pretend  to  say  how  far  Mr.  Cameron  was 
imposed  upon  by  his  banking  friends,  or  to  what  extent 
the  disclosure  subsequently  influenced  his  course.  Mr.  J. 
was  sent  to  Fort  McHenry,  and  the  bank  remained  for  a 
long  time  closed. 

Not  far  removed  in  date  of  occurrence,  another  form  of 
fraudulent  speculation,  of  which  an  instance  among  the 
male  traitors  has  been  recorded  in  the  experience  of  "Billy 
Wilson,"  presented  itself  under  a  new  and  very  amusing 
aspect. 

I  was  standing  on  the  steamboat  wharf  at  the  foot  of  Sev 
enth  Street,  Washington,  with  some  of  my  assistants,  when  a 
pretty  and  tastefully  dressed  woman  stepped  from  a  carriage 


THE   FAIR   SMUGGLER.  121 

and  cast  a  restless,  inquiring  glance  upon  the  miscellaneous 
crowd  around  her.  This  little  peculiarity  attracted  ray  at 
tention.  For,  not  unfrequently,  the  clew  to  a  crime  and  its 
perpetrator  is  given  by  such  signals,  of  both  which  only  a 
detective  of  some  experience  would  observe.  An  anxious 
look,  a  passing  expression  of  the  face,  a  confused  manner  or 
answer  to  a  question,  becomes  the  key  to  unlock  a  great  and 
dark  mystery  of  wrong. 

I  closely  watched  the  fair  traveler  as  she  walked  upon 
the  narrow,  springy  plank  to  the  boat,  and  saw  that  the  foot 
bridge  yielded  to  her  step  quite  too  much  for  her  natural 
weight.  I  was  satisfied,  upon  a  nearer  observation,  that 
under  her  light  outer  dress  there  was  a  heavier  garment  than 
anything  in  the  usual  contents  of  the  female  wardrobe. 

I  politely  accosted  her  in  the  saloon,  and  said  : 

"  Madam,  what  have  you  concealed  under  your  dress  ?" 

"Nothing,  sir,"  she  sharply  replied,  "that  I  have  not  a 
right  to  carry/' 

"See  here,  my  lady  ;  just  step  into  that  state-room,  and 
relieve  yourself  of  the  contraband  goods  without  further 
ceremony  or  trouble." 

She  disappeared,  and  a  moment  later,  from  the  partially 
opened  door  spitefully  threw  a  skirt,  in  which  was  quilted 
forty  pounds  of  sewing  silk,  saying: 

"I  suppose  you  think  that  you  are  very  smart." 

I  quietly  replied?  "Smart  enough  for  you,  madam;" 
rolled  up  the  valuable  garment,  and  left  her  to  her  own 
reflections. 

In  the  introduction  to  this  volume,  I  said  that  it  was  the 
aim,  and  to  some  extent  a  successful  one,  I  think,  to  give  to 
tlie  Detective  Bureau  a  character  second  to  no  other  part  of  the 
national  service  in  reliability.  No  man,  however  successful 
in  his  particular  work,  was  allowed  to  remain  in  my  employ 
ment  if  found  to  be  wanting  in  integrity.  I  quote  one  care 
from  several  on  this  point. 

Mr.  M.,  in  accordance  with  the  subjoined  order,  was 
arrested  and  confined  in  the  Old  Capitol  Prison : 

WASHINGTON,  March.  >.&,  1862. 
To  the  Honorable  P.  H.  WATSON,  Assistant  Secretary  of  War: 

DEAR  SIR — In  compliance  with  vour  order  of  the  8th,  I  herewith  forward 


122  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

report  in  Ihe  case  of  S.  M.  M.,  a  detective  agent  of  the  United  States  Govern- 
nient,  charged  by  John  Evans,  John  Bradshavv,  and  others,  captains  of  schooi.era 
engaged  on  the  Potomac,  with  having  at  sundry  times  blackmailed  or  extorted 
money  illegally  from  them. 

1st.  Mr.  S.  M.  M.  is  not,  nor  has  been  at  any  time,  in  my  employ.  On 
or  about  the  12th  of  January,  1862,  Mr.  M.  was  appointed  by  the  State 
Department  as  a  detective  agent,  and  was  ordered  to  report  to  me.  I  imnie 
diateU-  sent  him  to  Alexandria,  Virginia,  for  the  purpose  of  watching  all 
suspected  persons;  giving  him  no  authority  to  arrest  or  seize  property  of  any 
description  without  first  obtaining,  through  me,  the  proper  order  from  the 
State  Department. 

On  the  10th  instant,  I  applied  to  Mr.  Allen,  before  and  by  whom  the 
affidavits  forwarded  to  your  department  were  acknowledged,  and  ascertained 
that  the  charges  were  true,  except  as  to  date,  and  some  other  minor  discrep 
ancies,  which  do  not  in  any  manner  alter  the  charges  or  affect  the  matter.  So 
far  as  Mr.  M.  is  concerned,  I  consider  the  charges  made  in  the  affidavits 
proved,  and  deeply  regret  that  any  officer  with  whom  I  have  had  any  connec 
tion  should  be  guilty  of  such  conduct. 

If  any  class  of  men  in  the  employ  of  the  Government  at  this  time  should 
be  honest  and  trustworthy,  it  is  its  confidential  agents. 

I  respectfully  suggest  that  you  order  me  officially  to  discharge  Mr.  S.  M.  M. 
immediate!^ 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  L.  C.  BAKER, 

Government  Detective,  War  Department. 

Several  weeks  before  the  occurrences  which  will  soon  be 
narrated,  information  had   been  conveyed  to  the  War  De 
partment,  from  Lower  Maryland,  of  treasonable  designs  and 
operations  of  the  people  residing  there.     The  loyal  few  en 
tered  their  complaint  in  words  which  I  shall  quote  :— 

GRKAT  MILLS  P.  0.,  > 

ST.  MART'S  COUNTY,  November  13,  1861.  ) 

Hon.  SIMON  CAMERON,  Secretary  of  War : — 

DEAR  SIR — Being  a  loyal  citizen  of  Maryland,  I  regard  it  an  imperative 
duty  to  inform  the  Government  of  some  facts  which  I  hope  the  Government 
may  recognize. 

There  is  a  set  c.f  men  here  who  have  done,  and  are  still  doing,  all  in  their 
power  to  aid  the  rebel  army.  They  have  used  the  most  treasonable  language 
toward  the  Government;  they  have  harbored,  fed,  and  equipped,  in  every 
sense  of  the  word,  a  great  many  men,  and  then  have  conveyed  them  to  Vir 
ginia.  I  also  firmly  believe  they  have  arms  buried  in  a  churchyard,  ready  tr 
use  upon  the  Union  people  here,  should  the  opportunity  offer.  These  met 
have  done  much  against  the  Union  cause  here.  At  the  recent  election,  the) 
tried  to  have  men  vote  who  acknowledged  they  had  been  to  Virginia  to  beai 


THE  MARYLAND   UNIONISTS   COMPLAIN.  123 

arms  against  the  Government,  and  did  finally  succeed  in  regard  to  some  who 
had  been  to  the  rebels,  in  the  face  of  all  I  could  do.  We  polled  many  more 
votes  than  they  anticipated,  and  they  now  threaten  our  lives  and  property, 
and  say  they  will  drive  us  from  our  homes. 

They  organized  a  vigilance  committee,  and  waited  upon  many  Union  men, 
and  even  forced  one  citizen  to  leave  the  county ;  this,  sir,  would  be  confirmed 
by  all  the  Union  men  in  the  district.  I  shall  take  here  the  liberty  to  append 
the  names  of  these  men.  As  I  have  said  before,  if  the  chance  offers  itself,  our 
lives  and  property  are  in  danger.  Since  the  election,  their  hatred  has  become 
bitter,  since  they  see  the  majority  in  the  State  for  the  Government. 

I  now  beg  to  say  a  few  words  in  regard  to  the  gentlemen  who  have  been 
/elected  by  the  disunionists  to  serve  in  the  Legislature.  They  have  publicly 
said  they  owe  no  allegiance  to  the  Government,  and  they  further  say  they  are 
not  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  also  say  they  had  rather  see  the  Govern 
ment  sink  to  hell,  than  to  see  the  Southern  Confederacy  lose  the  slightest 
victory. 

These,  sir,  are  the  men  elected  as  our  guardians  in  the  two  branches  of  the 
Legislature.  We,  the  Union  men  of  St.  Mary's  county,  do  solemnly  protest 
against  these  men,  and  contend,  as  the  true  and  loyal  citizens  of  Maryland, 
they  do  in  no  wise  represent  our  views,  and  believe  that  these  men  will 
not  defend  our  rights,  and  redress  our  grievances  in  the  both  Houses.  We, 
sir,  believe  that  a  Camanche  has  as  much  right,  and  would  as  soon  recognize 
one,  as  the  men  forced  upon  us  by  the  rebels.  We  beg  protection  in  our 
county,  and  in  the  Legislature,  by  the  removal  of  these  men  from  our  midst. 
They  are  still  carrying  a  great  many  goods,  and  I  believe  some  ammunition 
and  arms  to  the  rebels. 

Captain  Gray,  of  one  the  cutters  in  the  Potomac,  I  much  fear  will  have 
trouble  by  his  gentlemanly  conduct  and  courtesy  toward  the  rebels  here.  I 
heard  from  them  that  they  intended  a  party  of  them,  sufficient  in  number,  to 
go  aboard  to  dine  or  exchange  courtesies,  and  seize  the  vessel  and  crew,  and 
run  them  into  Virginia.  This  is  from  these  men  whom  I  shall  give  the  names 
of.  We  beg  that  these  men  may  be  taken  out  of  our  midst,  and  sent  away 
from  us.  They  threaten  us  in  the  most  unmeasured  terms.  I  beg  to  know  if 
we  are  recognized,  that  T  may  appease  the  fears  of  our  people  here.  Many  of 
them  are  much  frightened,  as  the  rebels  are  largely  in  the  ascendency,  and 
they  threaten  desolation.  Take  the  men  whose  names  I  here  append,  and  all 
will  be  well  with  us — as  loyal  people. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  R.  BISCOE, 

Great  Mills  P.  0.,' 

St.  Mary's  County.  Maryland, 
Co  Hor,  HIMON  CAMERON,  Secretary  of  War. 

Tnose  elected  to  the  Legislature  :  for  Senate,  L.  13. ;  House  delegates,  33.  Q. 
Harris,  Esq.,  J.  F.  1). ;  Aiders  and  abettors :  H.  J.  0.  and  son,  J.  D.  F.  and  son, 
«.  K.,  B.  H.,  Dr.  F.  S.,  Dr.  A.  L.,  I.  A.,  and  J.  A.,  E.  H.  J.,  S.  H.,  M.  H., 


124  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

F.  C.,  T,  S.,  J.  G.,  Dr.  A.,  W.  C.  A.,  B.  H.,  and  in  fact  every  rebel  here, 
bare  done  something  to  contribute  to  the  rebel  forces. 

Yours, 

J.  B. 
The  paper  had  this  indorsement : — 

Hon.  WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD:— 

Inclosed  is  a  list  of  candidates  that  I  think  are  fair  subjects  for  Fort 

Warren. 

THOMAS  A.  SOOTT,  Asst.  Sec.  of  War. 

Before  leaving  Washington,  I  was  directed  by  Mr.  Sew- 
ard  to  exercise  my  own  judgment  and  discretion  as  to  the 
arrest  of  these  persons,  furnished  with  the  following  order  :— 

DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE,          { 
WASHINGTON,  November  19, 1861.  J 

To  Brigadier-General  DANIEL  E.  SICKLES,  &c.,  &c.,  &c.,  or  General  HOOKER  : — 
GENERAL — The  bearer  of  this  is  Mr.  L.  C.  Baker,  a  detective  in  the  employ 
of  this  department,  whom  I  have  requested  to  look  after  some  disloyal  per 
sons  in  St.  Mary's  county,  Maryland.     I  will  thank  you  to  render  him  anf 
assistance  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  that  he  may  require. 
I  am,  General,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

F.  W.  SEWARD, 

Assistant  Secretary. 

Further  facts,  in  addition  to  those  already  in  my  posses 
sion,  determined  my  action  in  this  matter. 

I  selected  the  names  of  eight  persons  to  be  arrested ; 
among  them,  one  H.,  residing  on  Fatuxent  river,  near  its 
mouth,  at  a  place  called  Millstone  Landing. 

H.,  aside  from  his  secession  heresy,  was  a  man  of 
notoriously  bad  character,  and  the  terror  of  his  neighbor 
hood.  An  old  resident,  he  had  become  familiar  with  all  the 
streams,  bays,  inlets,  &c,,  of  that  region,  including  the  Po 
tomac  and  Patuxent  rivers,  and  Chesapeake  bay.  The 
character  of  the  man,  and  this  knowledge  of  the  country, 
made  him  a  fit  tool,  and  valuable  member  of  the  band  of 
blockade  runners  and  spies,  who  resorted  to  his  house  as 
their  place  of  rendezvous. 

For  ten  days  before  I  was  on  his  track,  he  had  slept  in  the 
woods,  from  fear  of  being  taken. 

As  an  evidence  of  rebel  zeal,  they  had  arranged  a  system 


THE   ARREST  OF   REBEL  EMISSARIES.  125 

of  signals,  to  give  the  alarm  whenever  a  detective  or  Gov 
ernment  agent  appeared  in  the  vicinity. 

During  the  day,  strips  of  white  cotton  cloth  were  careless 
ly  suspended  from  the  windows  of  their  residences,  or  from 
a  tree  or  shrub,  to  give  notice  of  the  arrival.  In  the  night, 
the  signal  was  the  blowing  of  tin  horns. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  and  to  accomplish  the  purpose  of 
arresting  the  traitors,  the  greatest  caution  was  necessary. 

I  therefore  divided  my  force  of  a  hundred  men  into  eight 
or  ten  parties,  giving  each  officer  a  minute  description  of  the 
residence  of  the  man  to  be  arrested.  Aware  that  the  arrest 
of  any  one  of  the  band  before  the  others  would  immediately 
alarm  them,  these  squads  all  left  camp  at  the  same  time,  with 
the  understanding  that,  whether  the  arrests  were  made  or 
not,  the  whole  company  should  rendezvous  at  a  certain 
point  the  next  morning  at  eight  o'clock.  A  more  inclement 
and  a  wilder  night  I  have  rarely  known. 

The  streams  were  swollen  by  rains,  and  the  darkness 
great,  which  tended  to  make  the  expedition  very  uncertain 
and  uncomfortable. 

With  the  thirteen  men  who  accompanied  me,  at  two 
o'clock  A.  M.,  I  surrounded  the  house  of  H.      On  knock 
ing  at  the  door,  I  gained  no  response.     Forcing  my  entrance 
into  the  house,  I  was  confronted  by  H.  with  a  loaded  pisto1 
who  desired  to  know  my  errand.     I  replied : 

"H.,  your  house  is  surrounded,  and  I  have  come  to 
take  you  prisoner.  Give  me  that  pistol."  He  did  so  reluct 
antly. 

Upon  searching  the  house,  I  found  six  notorious  blockade- 
runners  in  the  upper  story.  Two  were  on  their  way  to 
''  Dixie"  with  mail,  and  four  returning,  and  conveying  letters 
jf  more  or  less  importance  North, 

Naturally  enough,  the  company  were  greatly  disconcerted. 

I  put  these  under  arrest,  and,  while  searching  outhouses, 
found  the  ' '  intelligent  contraband. ' '  Upon  questioning  him,  I 
learned  where  a  large  number  of  pistols  and  sabers,  which 
he  had  carted  to  their  place  of  interment,  on  their  way  South, 
were  buried.  From  Jiim  I  also  ascertained  that  a  large 
square  box,  containing  Sharp's  rifles,  was  buried  in  a  C*atho- 
lic  church- vard  three  miles  from  the  river. 


126  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

Upon  application  to  the  Rev.  Mr. ,  pastor  of  the  flock 

worshiping  there,  he  treated  my  statements  with  ridicule, 
and  refused  to  let  me  desecrate  the  "hallowed  ground,"  pro- 
no  uncing  the  act  wanton  sacrilege.  He  denounced  the  Gov 
ernment  for  permitting  it. 

I  proceeded  to  the  burial-place  with  the  contraband,  who 
pointed  out  the  grave.  When  my  men  commenced  throwing 
oui  die  dirt,  the  priest  approached,  and  with  uplifted  handn 
exclaimed  :  "  Is  it  possible  that,  in  this  enlightened  age,  men 
can  be  found  who  will  willfully  desecrate  the  resting-place 
of  the  dead!" 

I  continued  the  work  of  exhuming  the  treasure  until  a 
new  and  large  pine  box  was  found  and  raised  to  the  surface* 
It  contained  fifty-six  Sharp's  rifles,  with  fifty  rounds  of  am 
munition  each. 

My  clerical  friend  exclaimed,  with  apparent  surprise,  "I 
Bonder  how  those  arms  could  have  got  there  !" 

It  may  be  well  to  state  here,  that  one  of  the  fondest 
dreams  of  the  people  of  Lower  Maryland  was,  that  at  some 
future  day  the  rebel  army  would  cross  the  Potomac,  and 
have  on  the  nearer  shore  to  Washington  a  base  of  operations 
against  the  capital.  Therefore  these  people  had  long  been 
secreting  arms  and  ammunition,  to  be  ready  for  this  grand 
movement. 

My  plan,  which  has  been  before  referred  to,  but  par 
tially  succeeded,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  arrival  of  the 
military  was  known. 

Dr.  S.,  a  prominent  rebel,  had  left  his  home  on  the  first 
intimation  of  our  approach.  His  house  was  visited  the  next 
day,  but  he  was  not  at  home. 

My  squad  were  hungry,  and  asked  for  dinner.  The 
women  at  once  began  to  prepare  it.  Among  the  inviting 
dishes  was  a  roasted  opossum.  We  all  ate  heartily,  and, 
besides  paying  liberally  for  the  meal,  we  kindly  thanked 
our  fair  hostess  for  the  satisfactory  repast, 

Upon  reaching  camp  we  were  taken  ill,  and  in  a  few 
hours  three  out  of  the  five  were  in  a  dangerous  condition. 

A  physician  was  called,  who  said:  "These  men  have 
been  poisoned.  What  have  they  been  eating  ?" 

No  explanation  could  be  then  given  ;  but  it  was  after 


/s  it  possible  that  metj  can  be.  found  to 

the  resting  place  of  Me  dead!  n 


THE  COFFIN  CONTAINED  FIFTY-SIX  SHARP'S  RIFLES. 


SMUGGLING  QUININE  SOUTH.  127 

ward  ascertained  that  the  opossum  had  extra  dressing  for 
our  special  benefit. 

H.,  with  seven  of  his  companions,  was  confined  in  Fort 
Lafayette  a  year. 

The  name  will  again  appear  in  the  record  of  a  later  period, 
m  a  light  no  more  flattering. 

I  learned  about  this  time  that  persons  connected  with  dis 
tinguished  politicians  were  engaged  in  suspicious  business 
in  Washington.  The  names  were  Mrs.  T.,  Miss  L.  B.  B., 
and  M.  B.  B.,  a  Baptist  minister. 

I  also  learned  that  Mrs.  T.  was  the  mother  of  Miss  B., 
the  sister-in-law  of  Hon.  Montgomery  Blair,  Postmaster- 
General,  and  that  Mrs.  T.  and  her  friends  resided  in  Fau- 
quier  County,  Virginia.  The  passes  had  been  procured 
on  the  recommendation  of  Postmaster  Blair,  to  give  these 
persons  the  opportunity  to  get  a  few  of  the  "necessaries 
of  life." 

An  espionage  of  the  visitors  disclosed  a  traffic  in  quinine 
of  considerable  extent. 

They  had  visited  three  drug  stores,  and  purchased  six 
hundred  ounces.  This  was  taken  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Gal 
lagher,  brother  of  Miss  B.  To  ascertain1  in  what  way  the 
quinine  was  to  be  conveyed,  resort  was  had  again  to  the 
contraband. 

A  negro  servant  at  Mr.  Gallagher's  house  soon  reported 
that  Miss  B.  was  engaged  in  makmg  a  skirt  formed  of  sec 
tions,  or  long  pockets,  lined  with  oiled  silk. 

The  smugglers  were  so  closely  watched  that  every  move 
ment  in  the  purchase  was  known  within  half  an  hour  after  it 
occurred. 

I  had  decided  not  to  arrest  them  until  they  were  over  our 
lines.  After  they  left  Washington,  I  called  on  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Blair,  and  told  him  the  particulars  in  regard  to  his  friends ; 
when  and  where  the  medicine  was  obtained  ;  the  manufacture 
of  the  skirt  for  its  transportation,  &c.  I  further  apprised  hiir 
that  they  had  that  morning  started  for  home.  Mr.  Blair  lis 
tened  to  my  story,  and  then  pleasantly  remarked:  "Why, 
Baker,  those  persons  are  as  loyal  as  you  a^o,  and  I  loaned 
them  the  money." 

Then  taking  his  bank  book  from  his  drawer,  h*  a4ded: 


128  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

"  See  ;  I  have  just  had  my  note  for  five  hundred  dollars 
discounted  to  help  these  poor  people." 

I  replied :  "  Mr.  Blair,  I  cannot  be  mistaken  about  this." 

Exhibiting  much  impatience  at  my  positiveness,  he  said  : 
"Well,  arrest  them ;  and  if  you  find  the  quinine,  put  them 
in  the  Old  Capitol." 

Three  miles  over  the  lines,  I  stopped  the  travelers,  and 
informed  Miss  B.  that  I  wanted  to  examine  the  skirt.  She 
immediately  went  into  a  farm-house,  took  off  the  garment, 
and  threw  it  down  indignantly,  saying  :  "So  this  is  the  way 
you  treat  Southern  ladies." 

The  whole  party  were  then  escorted  to  Washington. 

Miss  B.  and  Mr.  B.  were  lodged  in  the  Old  Capitol 
prison.  Upon  reporting  the  facts  to  the  Secretary  of  War, 
he  directed  me  turn  the  quinine  over  to  the  medical  director, 
the  horse  and  wagoii.  to  the  quartermaster,  and  the  groceriea 
to  the  hospitals. 

The  next  morning  the  Hon.  Montgomery  Blair  and 
Miss  B.  called,  and  demanded  the  restoration  of  the  prop 
erty. 

I  informed  them  of  its  disposal. 

On  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  Mr.  Blair  came  back  with 
written  order  from  Mr.  Lincoln  to  deliver  up  the  goods. 

I  told  him  that  this  was  impossible,  for  it  had  already 
been  handed  over  to  the  Government  by  authority  of  the 
Secretary  of  War. 

He  then  demanded  my  removal  from  office. 

Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  see  that  I  had  disobeyed  any  order, 
and  failed  to  appreciate  his  Postmaster's  regard  for  law  and 
his  Southern  friends. 

The  parties  were  kept  in  prison  several  weeks,  and  then 
paroled. 

We  add  Mr.  B.'s  statement,  made  under  oath  : — 


M.  B.  B.  makes  the  following  statement : — 

I  was  bore  in  Loudon  County,  Virginia.  Aged  twenty-three  years.  Re 
side  in  Fauquier  County,  Virginia.  On  or  about  the  27th  of  October,  1862, 
Mrs.  T.,  her  daughter  (Miss  L.  B.  B.),  and  myself,  came  to  Washington  city, 
in  a  buggy  or  carriage,  which  was  owned  by  Mrs.  T. — the  horse  belonged  to 
rae.  Mrs.  T.  also  had  in  her  employ  a  wagon  and  team,  which,  I  believe, 


MR.   BAYLY'S   COMPANION.  129 

were  the  property  of  the  driver,  and  which  were  engaged  by  her  to  convey 
groceries  to  her  home,  for  family  use. 

My  visit  to  Washington,  at  the  time  referred  to,  was  at  the  written 
request  of  Mrs.  T.,  desiring  me  to  accompany  her  to  Washington.  After 
making  her  purchases,  she  (Mrs.  T.)  obtained  the  necessary  passes  for  our 
return ;  we  started  for  home,  and  arrived  in  Alexandria,  Virginia.  The 
weather  being  rainy,  Miss  B.  and  myself  commenced  the  preliminaries  for 
taking  medicines  through  the  lines,  on  a  speculation.  After  the  agreement 
to  do  so,  I  ordered  some  of  the  medicines  in  Alexandria,  when  our  party 
(Mrs.  T.,  Miss  B.,  and  myself)  concluded  to  return  to  Washington,  D. '0. ; 
but  Mrs.  T.,  to  my  knowledge,  knew  nothing  of  the  contraband  arrangement 
between  Miss  B.  and  myself. 

The  purchases  were  all  made  by  me,  both  in  Alexandria  and  in  Washing 
ton.  Miss  B.  and  myself  jointly  expended  about  five  hundred  dollars  in  the 
enterprise. 

Miss  B.'s  arrangements  for  the  conveyance  were  completed  at  Mr.  Gal 
lagher's  residence  on  Fifteenth  Street ;  mine  were  completed  in  Alexandria. 
After  taking  every  precaution  for  success,  we  started  for  home  in  the  same 
conveyance  that  brought  us,  and  the  same  parties,  viz. :  Mrs.  T.,  Miss  B.,  and 
myself. 

We  proceeded  homeward  until  stopped  by  the  pickets,  near  Chantilly,  and 
were  then  taken  to  Centreville,  Fairfax  County,  Virginia,  where  we  were 
searched,  and  the  contraband  medicines  found  and  taken  from  us.  I  had  but 
two  letters,  which  were  taken  from  me  when  arrested — one  was  given  me  by 
Miss  B.  H.  (who,  I  believe,  boards  on  Four-and-a-Half  Street),  remarking  at 
the  time,  that  it  was  from  her  mother  to  her  sister;  Mr.  McV.,  of  Alexandria, 
handed  me  the  other,  requesting  me  to  send  it  to  his  father,  remarking  that 
there  was  nothing  treasonable  in  it. 

I  did  not  know  of  any  letters  on  the  person  of  Miss  B.,  previous  to 
our  arrest.  When  arrested,  Miss  B.  and  myself  regretted  the  cause 
thereof,  as  we  imagined  Postmaster-General  Montgomery  Blair  might  be 
censured  for  aiding  and  assisting  us  in  obtaining  passes,  our  actions,  as 
detected,  having  the  appearance  of  disloyalty.  It  is  but  justice  to  that  gen 
tleman  to  say,  that  he  knew  nothing  of  the  matter  between  Miss  B.  and 
myself. 

Besides  the  contraband  medicines  taken  from  me,  I  had  two  carpet-bags, 

which  contained  my  clothing.     I  also  hold  a  receipt  from  detective  officer 

Lee,  for  "  forty  dollars  in  treasury  notes,  thirty  dollars  in  Virginia  State  notes, 

wenty-four  dollars  in  Confederate  notes,  and  two  dollars  on  broken  bank," 

jgether  with  my  horse,  which  was  in  the  buggy  when  arrested.     I  believe 

all  these  are  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  L.  0.  Baker,  Provost-Marshal  of  the  War 

Department,  and,  being  my  individual  property,  I  respectfully  ask  their  return 

on  the  disposal  of  my  case. 

Having  thus  truthfully  stated  my  case,  and  my  lady  companion  (Miss  B.) 

having  been  discharged,  I  presume  that  justice  and  punishment  should  be 

administered  without  partiality.     I,  therefore,  respectfully  ask  my  discharge 

from  confinement  on  the  same  conditions  and  privileges  as  were  conceded  to 

9 


130  EDITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE 

Miss  L.  B,  B.,  my  companion  in  the  unfortunate  matter  which  caused  my 
arrest  and  confinement. 

M.  B.  B. 

Personally  appeared  before  me,  this  eleventh  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1862 
the  above-named  Marcus  B.  B.,  and,  being  sworn  according  to  law,  de 
clares  the  above  statement  to  be  true. 

L.  C.  TUKNER, 

Judge-Advocate. 
Witness  my  hand  and  seal  the  day  and  year  aforesaid. 

The  telegraph  lines  were  especially  guarded  after  the  war 
commenced.  Great  failures  in  army  movements  were  caused 
by  the  improper  use  of  the  telegraph. 

When  battles  were  impending,  guards  and  censors  to 
watch  it  were  sent  by  the  Government  to  the  offices,  for  two 
reasons :  first,  to  prevent  intelligence  from  reaching  the  ene 
my  ;  secondlv,  to  keep  it  out  of  the  hands  of  unscrupulous 
persons,  who  would  use  it  for  speculation.  Two  millions 
of  dollars  were  made  in  Wall  Street  in  an  hour  by  a  single 
telegram.  The  business  of  that  money  market  was  governed 
by  the  army  movements.  Various  tricks  and  expedients 
were  resorted  to  for  the  concealment  of  the  traffic  in  blood 
and  gold. 

Very  few  exceptions,  however,  were  made  to  this  general 
rule.  The  commanding  general,  chief  quartermaster,  and 
a  few  others,  were  permitted  to  send  dispatches  not  subject 
to  the  usual  censorship.  A  prominent  officer  attached  to 
headquarters,  who  had  spent  his  early  life  in  Oregon,  with 
the  army,  had  become  familiar  with  an  Indian  jargon  called 
Chunook,  introduced  by  cast-away  sailors,  seventy-live 
years  ago.  No  trade  but  that  of  whale-ships  was  then 
carried  on  along  that  coast.  The  sailors  taught  the  Indians 
certain  expressions,  pretending  them  to  be  English,  which 
remain  in  use  among  them. 

A  prominent  Oregon  politician,  then  in  Washington— a 
friend  of  the  army  officer  befor»  referred  to — had  also  learned 
this  "Clmiiook."  Presuming  that  the  knowledge  of  this 
jargon  was  confined  to  themselves  at  the  East,  they  had 
arranged  a  system  of  telegrams,  to  speculate  in  gold. 

December  12,  1862,  after  a  temporary  repulse  of  the  Union 
Army,  I  was  sent  for  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  who  said  : 


CHUNOOK    TELEGRAMS.  13] 

"  Colonel,  can  you  tell  me  what  this  means?"  handing  me  a 
telegram,  which  I  recognized  at  once  as  Chunook.  The  dis 
patch  was  signed  u—  — ,"  and  sent  to  - 

I  replied  :   •'  Oregon  Indian  jargon." 

He  added  :   "  What  is  jargon  \ " 

I  explained. 

He  asked  me  to  write  out  a  translation  of  it. 

The  Secretary  did  not  seem  fully  to  appreciate  my 
knowledge  of  the  language. 

He  inquired  if  there  were  others  who  understood  it. 

I  replied :   "Yes,  several." 

Retaining  the  telegram,  he  sent  for  Mr.  D.,  clerk  in  the 
Department  of  the  Interior,  who  had  also  been  in  Oregon. 

He  translated  it  substantially  as  I  had  done.  The  Sec 
retary,  still  incredulous,  sent  for  General  ,  who  is  a 

fine  linguist. 

He  said:  "Mr.  Secretary,  why,  this  is  Hungarian:"  a 
reply  which  was  for  some  time  a  standing  joke  at  the  gener 
al's  expense. 

The  dispatches  continued  to  arrive  that  and  the  next  day. 
They  were  altered,  transposed,  &c.,  then  forwarded,  to  the 
great  wonder  and  bewilderment  of  the  recipients. 

We  copy  the  original  telegrams  with  the  two  translations, 
intimating  that  the  Chunook  system  of  telegraphing  was  re 
jected  by  the  Government. 

The  expressions,  apparently  so  disconnected,  had  each  a 
significance  well  understood  by  the  army  speculators  :-*- 


NERIKA  ISCUM 

Hin  nesika  pooh  cononay  okok  sun  copa  bin  bias  guns.  Wake  bin  tilicum 
mameloos.  Tornollob  tenas  sun  nesika  puck  puck  copa  musket  pe  cononay 
pire  ictas.  Nahnitka  clunas  silcum  r.esika  mameloos  kata  wake  cbaco  ole 
nez. 

Wbere  is  S.  Wbere  II.  S.  Come  here  to-day.  My  soldiers  come  as  you 
lold  me.  No\v  tell  me,  old  N.,  suppose  you  want  to  see  one  big  firing.  A1J 
well,  you  make  baste  here  now.  News  why  mad,  yes,  to-morrow. 

Where  is  S.  Tell  H.  S.  to  come  here  to-day.  The  soldiers  come  as  you 
told  me.  Now  tell  old  N.,  suppose  he  wants  to  see  one  big  firing,  all  right, 
make  haste  here.  Tbev  will  be  mad  to-morrow 


132  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  TELEGRAPH,  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  I 
WASHINGTON,  D.  0.,  December  12, 1362.  J 

Wake  siyah  cultus  mitlike  nesika  conoway  okok  sun  nika  tumtum  claska 
rebels  puck  puck  nesika  tomallah  kagna  pilitin  divils  klash  nanitch  conowa^ 
sun  tomallah  klark  aiyum  mika. 

We  have  come  to  Fredericksburg.  A  great  many  we  shoot  all  this  day, 
with  a  great  many  big  guns.  A  great  many  of  your  people  are  killed.  To 
morrow  morning  we  shoot  with  muskets  and  all  fire-arms.  Yes,  probably 
half  of  us  will  be  dead.  Why  don't  you  come. 

We  have  come  to  Fredericksburg.  We  have  killed  a  great  many  to-day, 
with  big  guns.  A  great  many  of  their  people  are  killed.  To-morrow  morn 
ing  we  shoot  with  muskets,  and  all  kinds  of  fire-arms.  Probably  half  of  us 
will  be  dead.  Why  don't  old  N.  come. 

It  appears  to  patriotic  " outsiders"  incredible  that  such  a 
morbid  spirit  of  speculation  could  exist  amid  the  tragedies 
of  civil  war ;  but  those  who  escaped  the  contamination  in  the 
arena  of  tempting  opportunities  were  the  select  and  incor 
riiDtible  few  at  whose  head  was  Abraham  Lincoln. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

OFFICIAL  SERYICES  AND  EMBARRASSMENTS— NEW  ORDER  OF  THING  a 

The  Bureau  transferred  to  the  War  Department — Dr.  H.,  and  the  Perilous  Adventure 
of  which  he  was  the  occasion — Report  of  the  Case — Arrest  of  the  Leader  of  a 
great  secret  Southern  Organization — Documents  and  Letters. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE,  > 

WASHINGTON,  February  15,  1862.  J 

SIR — Permit  me  to  introduce  Mr.  L.  C.  Baker,  who  has  been  employed 
by  the  State  Department  in  the  detective  service,  and  who,  so  far  as  known, 
has  discharged  his  duties  in  a  manner  entirely  acceptable.  lr  consequence 
of  Executive  Order  No.  1,  dated  February  14,  this  department  has  no  further 
use  of  his  services.  He  is  commended  to  your  consideration  as  a  capable  and 
efficient  officer. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

W.  H.  SEWARD. 
Hon.  EDWIN  M.  STANTOX,  Secretary  of  War. 

Some  interesting  adventures  soon  after  followed. 

J)r.  G.  H.  was  from  Leesburg,  Ya.  ;  graduated  in  the 
Medical  College  of  Philadelphia,  and  became  engaged,  while 
attending  lectures,  to  the  daughter  of  a  prominent  citizen, 
and  subsequently  married  her. 

Immediately  after  the  rebellion  broke  out,  ne  took  sides 
with  the  South,  and  became  so  obnoxious  to  the  people  of 
Germantown,  by  the  declaration  of  bis  secession  s/aitiments, 
that  a  committee  waited  upon  him  requesting  him  to  leave, 
which  he  refused  to  do.  This  so  exasperated  the*  citizens, 
that  they  warned  him  to  take  a  peaceful  fareweU  of  the  com 
munity.  He  decided,  at  length,  to  go  South.  Removing  to 
Baltimore,  with  others  of  similar  character,  ainung  them  Cap 
tain  Wardell,  of  the  SJienandoah,  he  entered  into  the  exciting 
but  lucrative  business  of  blockade-running.  In  the  selection 
of  his  associates,  as  will  appear,  he  took  one  of  jny  detec 
tives,  and  gave  the  details  of  the  plan,  dates  of  intended 
operations,  and  the  kind  of  goods  to  be  sold.  The  schooner 
chartered  by  them  was  the  James  BucJianan-  a  fitting 
name. 


134  LIMITED    Si'A/fES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

Having  learned  all  the  facts,  I  provided  a  tug,  and  was 
lying  off  Annapolis  two  days  and  nights,  expecting  every 
moment  the  appearance  o£  the  schooner;  whose  departure, 
was  delayed  by  a  terrible  snow-storm. 

And  here  I  was  obliged  to  resort  to  one  of  the  subter 
fuges  which  were  employed  afterward  so  successfully  by 
my  assistants. 

Putting  on  the  old  oily  clothes  of  an  engineer,  and  with 
an  oil  can  in  my  hand,  I  went  to  the  store  where  the  excur 
sionists  were  getting  supplies. 

While  there,  I  found  the  entire  company  engaged  in  the 
purchase. 

I  was  in  no  hurry  to  leave  the  place,  but  managed  to  get 
close  to  one  of  the  company  who  belonged  to  my  force,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  circle  in  disguise,  trying,  by  nudging 
him  and  pulling  his  coat,  to  let  him  know  who  I  was.  It 
was  all  in  vain  :  so  complete  was  my  transformation  into  a 
common  and  greasy  engineer. 

Captain  Wardell  asked  me  on  what  boat  I  was  engineer 
1  said  of  a  tug-boat. 

Wardell.  then  turning  to  one  of  his  companions,  re 
marked  :  '-Why,  here's  a  man  who  can  tow  us  out."'  Then 
again  addressing  me,  he  inquired  : 

"What  will  you  ask  to  tow  a  small  schooner  out  into 
the  bay  ?" 

I  replied :  "  On  moderate  terms.  If  you  are  all  ready, 
for  ten  dollars.  Where  is  your  schooner?1' 

"At  the  wharf." 

"Well,  if  you  are  ready  in  an  hour  I'll  do  the  job.  My 
tug  is  at  the  end  of  the  pier." 

I  went  on  board  and  told  my  twelve  assistants  to  go  into 
a  small  cabin  aft,  and  not  to  show  themselves  till  signaled 
by  me. 

Soon  after  the  blockade-runners  came  down,  stepped 
aboard  the  schooner,  threw  me  a  line,  bade  adieu  to  their 
friends  on  shore,  and  we  started  down  the  bay. 

Their  vessel  being  small,  with  little  room  under  Ihe  deck, 
they  remained  above. 

Six  miles  from  Annapolis,  where  they  could  sail  their 
vessel,  they  hailed  me,  and  told  me  to  cast  off  the  line. 


THE   CAPTURE.  137 

I  invited  them  on  the  tug  to  take  a  glass  of  good  cheer 
before  leaving.  They  came  on  board,  and,  while  gathered 
around  the  bottle,  I  gave  the  signal ;  my  men  rushed  up  the 
hatchway.  I  told  my  guests  who  I  was,  and  that  they  were 
my  prisoners.  Among  them  was  one  of  my  detectives,  who, 
to  be  distinguished  readily,  wore  a  red  shirt  and  black  belt. 
He  had  been  three  weeks  with  these  blockade-runners.  A 
little  warlike  demonstration  was  soon  quieted  by  the  display 
of  a  carbine.  I  took  them  to  Fort  McHenry,  in  a  snow-storm 
of  great  severity ;  and,  having  let  my  subordinates  return 
with  the  boat  while  I  adjusted  business  details,  found  the 
walk  of  nearly  three  miles,  in  the  night,  no  pleasure  walk 
after  the  excitement  and  fatigue  of  the  day. 

My  report  recounts  the  official  course  of  events  partially 
narrated  :— 

WASHINGTON,  February  24,  1862. 

To  the  Hon.  E.  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War: — 

DEAR  SIR — Herewith  please  find  my  report  in  the  case  of  Dr.  H.  H., 

arrested  at  Annapolis,  on  the  18th  instant.  The  doctor  is  a  resident  of 
Germantown,  Pennsylvania.  During  the  excitement  last  summer,  the  doctor, 
made  himself  particularly  obnoxious  to  the  Union  people  in  his  vicinitj 
by  his  open  denunciations  of  the  Government  and  his  avowed  sympathy 
with  the  so-called  Confederate  States;  so  distasteful  had  he  become,  at 
one  time,  that  the  police  authorities  in  Philadelphia  were  compelled  to 
interfere  to  protect  his  person  and  property.  Dr.  II.  was,  until  the  last 
two  years,  a  resident  of  Winchester,  Virginia;  he  married  the  daughter 
oi.  F.  B.,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia  (a  good  Union  man  and  a  worthy  citizen). 
On  or  tDout  the  first  of  the  present  month,  the  Doctor  began  making  arrange 
ments  for  going  South,  for  the  purpose  of  joining  the  Confederate  army  as  a 
surgeon.  He  came  on  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  mingled  freely  with  the 
secession  element  in  that  city.  On  the  10th  instant,  an  organization  or  party 
of  rebels,  in  Baltimore  (of  which  the  Doctor  was  one),  chartered  the  sloop 
James  Buchanan  to  carry  them  to  Virginia.  Being  advised  of  their  intended 
movements,  I  chartered  (by  order  of  Major-General  Dix)  a  steam  tug,  with  a 
view  to  intercept  them,  it  being  understood  that  the  party,  consisting  of 
thirteen  persons,  were  to  embark  at  Annapolis.  The  day  fixed  upon  for  their 
departure  being  very  stormy,  the  sloop  did  not  leave  Baltimore.  I,  however 
went  to  Annapolis  on  Tuesday  last,  and  found  the  expedition  ready  to  sail 
Having  no  boat  at  my  disposal.  I  immediately  arrested  Dr.  H.  I  searched 
his  baggage,  and  found  letters  which  settle  the  question  as  to  his  guilt 
and  intentions  to  join  the  Confederates.  A  quantity  of  gold  coin  and 
Confederate  bank-bills  were  found  in  his  possession,  also  pistols,  rubber 
blankets,  ready-made  clothing,  &c.,  &c.  The  prisoner,  with  the  letters, 


i;38  UNITED   STATES   SECKET   SERVICE. 

papers,  money,  and  all  other  effects  belonging  to  him,  were  turned  over  to 
General  Dix,  at  Baltimore.  The  prisoner  is  now  confined  in  Fort  McHenry, 
subject  to  the  disposal  of  your  Department. 

I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  L.  C.  BAKEU. 

Alexandria,  notwithstanding  its  proximity  to  Washing 
ton,  became  headquarters  of  secession  councils.  This  state 
of  things  culminated,  early  in  the  struggle,  in  the  death  of 
Ellsworth. 

At  Baltimore,  while  I  was  apparently  in  sympathy  with 
the  rebels,  I  learned  of  a  secret  organization  at  Alexandria. 
It  was  formed  ostensibly  for  the  benefit  of  the  families  of 
both  Union  and  Confederate  soldiers.  This  will  account  for 
the  connection  of  Mr.  Louis  McKenzie  with  its  proceedings. 
He  became  a  member,  unaware  of  its  real  character  ;  and 
when  its  disloyal  spirit  was  apparent,  he  absented  himself 
from  the  meetings  of  the  society.  The  seizure  of  the  records 
put  me  in  possession  of  its  entire  history.  There  was  "a 
wheel  within  a  wheel"  in  this  organized  benevolence,  de 
signed  to  bring  out  all  the  sympathy  available  for  the  cause 
of  treason.  The  Peel  correspondence  will  be  found  es 
pecially  rich  in  expressions  of  feeling ;  while  the  rebel 
poetry,  which  graced  one  of  the  meetings  of  the  association, 
presents  very  forcibly  its  ruling  animus.  In  this  report, 
as  in  other  narratives  I  shall  quote,  sometimes  uninteresting 
details  occur,  because  inseparable  from  the  record : — 

WASHINGTON,  March  4, 1862. 

To  the  Hon.  E.  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War  :— 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  transmit  my  report  in  the  following 
cases,  arrested  at  Alexandria  by  myself  and  assistants,  February  26th  and 
27th,  1862.  Accompanying  this  report  are  two  books — one  containing  the 
proceedings  of  a  secret  organization,  or  society,  for  the  benefit  of  the  families 
of  soldiers  now  in  the  Confederate  army,  also  the  manufacture  of  uniforms, 
clothing,  &c.,  which  have  from  time  to  time  been  forwarded  to  the  so-called 
Confederate  States.  This  association  was  organized  in  June  last,  and,  as 
appears  from  the  minutes  of  their  proceedings,  the  Ladies'  Relief  Association, 
composed  of  the  wives  and  daughters  of  its  members,  were  admitted,  in  order, 
as  it  is  alleged,  to  extend  the  usefulness  of  their  operations. 

Repeated  complaints  have  been  made  to  me,  during  the  past  fall  and 
wmter,  concerning  the  meetings  and  treasonable  transactions  of  this  society. 


CITIZENS    OF   ALEXANDRIA    ARRESTED.  139 

Owing  to  the  high  social  standing  and  position  of  these  traitors,  and  the  ex 
treme  secrecy  with  which  all  their  operations  were  carried  on,  I  found  it 
very  difficult  to  ascertain,  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  their  places  of  meet 
ing,  their  number,  or  the  names  of  the  parties  comprising  the  organization. 

During  the  past  four  months,  large  numbers  of  cards  were  picked  up  in 
the  streets  and  bar-rooms  at  Alexandria,  on  which  \*ere  printed  words  and 
sentences,  disconnected,  which  (since  the  arrests  were  made)  I  have  ascer 
tained  were  intended  as  a  notice  to  the  members  of  the  society  to  meet  at  a 
certain  time  and  place.  So  dark  and  secret  were  all  their  proceedings,  that 
it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty,  and  after  months  of  patient  and  constant 
surveillance,  that  this  board  of  secret  plotters  against  the  Government  were 
brought  to  light. 

The  book  containing  the  minutes  of  these  meetings  was  found  in  the  pos 
session  of  Henry  Peel,  who,  at  the  time  of  the  arrests,  was  secretary  of  the 
association.  This  book,  fortunately,  contained  the  names  of  all  the  officers, 
which  subsequently  led  to  their  arrest.  The  book  marked  "Dangerfield" 
was  found  in  his  (Dangerfield's)  possession.  It  contains  a  statement  of  the 
object  of  the  association,  the  names  of  its  contributors,  names  of  subscribers, 
amount  subscribed,  and  how  disbursed. 

There  can  be  no  question  as  to  the  real  object  of  thi§  association.  Let 
ters,  papers,  and  memorandums,  found  in  possession  of  nearly  all  the  parties 
arrested,  show  most  conclusively  that  these  individuals  were  engaged  in  a 
treasonable  conspiracy  to  levy  war  against  the  United  States  Government, 
and  all  have  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  Much  of  the  proof  on 
which  I  rely  to  convict,  under  the  act  of  1861,  is  verbal  conversations  with 
and  between  these  rebels,  which  have  been  overheard  by  many  of  the  most 
reliable  citizens  of  Alexandria,  and,  I  am  satisfied,  will  convince  any  jury  in 
the  land  of  their  guilt. 

On  or  about  the  4th  of  March,  1861,  Mr.  Louis  McKenzie  (now  Mayor  of 
Alexandria)  was  called  upon  for  consultation  with  J.  B.  Dangerfield,  TV.  F. 
Booth,  W.  H.  Taylor,  W.  H.  Marburg,  General  Johnston  (now  in  the  Con 
federate  army),  James  Green,  and  J.  W.  Burke,  for  the  purpose  of  devising 
some  plan  for  the  seizure  of  Washington,  the  seizure  of  steamers  running  on 
the  Potomac,  and  destroying  the  buoys  marking  the  channel  up  the  Potomac. 
They  also  gave  information  and  personally  assisted  in  the  seizure  of  the 
steamer  Paige,  now  in  possession  of  the  Confederates.  All  the  facts  causing 
this  meeting  can  be  proved  by  a  number  of  reliable  witnesses  now  residing  in 
Alexandria.  All  the  above-named  parties  (except  the  rebel  General  John 
ston)  are  now  confined  at  the  Old  Capitol  prison. 

Owing  to  the  recent  arrests,  and  seizure  of  contraband  correspondence, 
but  few  letters  directly  implicating  the  parties  were  found. 


HENRY  PEEL. 

The  following  letter  was  written  to  Henry  Peel  by  his  brother  now  in  Rich 
raond : — 


140  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

KICHMOND,  November  30,  18Ct. 

Mi  DEAR  BROTHER— You  can  not  imagine  the  source  of  pleasure  your  letter 
gave  us.  It  was  the  first  line  I  had  received  from  Alexandria  since  I  left. 
The  letter  you  wrote  me  in  answer  to  mine  I  have  never  received,  but  hope  it 
may  come  along  in  time.  Since  I  came  to  Richmond  I  have  been  busily  engaged 
selling  off  the  goods  I  shipped  to  the  country,  and  have  been  operating  in 
oilier  articles  out  of  my  usual  line,  and  have  succeeded  very  well  so  far.  The 
truth  is,  almost  anything  you  could  buy  can  be  sold  at  a  profit  and  for  cash. 
Money  is  more  abundant  than  I  ever  knew  in  all  my  business  life.  Richmond 
is  the  center  of  trade;  it  is  the  point  from  which  the  army  draw  most  of  their 
supplies.  The  supplies  are  abundant  and  coming  in  from  every  quarter.  The 
noble  sons  of  the  South  have  just  laid  down  their  all  upon  the  altar  of  patriot 
ism,  determining  to  maintain  their  rights  against  such  a  nation  of  Yankee 
myrmidons,  as  are  in  fact  the  Northern  States.  When  the  South  determined 
to  separate  from  so  vile  a  community,  they  have  to  confess  that  they  did  not 
know  that  they  were  so  much  like  land  pirates  as  they  have  shown  themselves 
to  be  in  their  effort  to  crush  the  Southern  people.  Of  all  civilized  nations 
known,  a  more  brutal,  despicable  crusade  against  the  South  is  not  recorded. 
They  (the  South)  now  fully  know  with  whom  they  are  dealing,  and  will  act 
accordingly — an  eye  for  an  eye — and  all  prepare  to  meet  them  any  and  every 
where.  Whenever  a  contest  has  taken  place,  the  Southern  soldiers  have  proven 
successful.  This  is  true;  their  papers  to  the  contrary.  The  whole  purpose  is 
to  deceive  the  people,  and  their  papers  are  under  such  surveillance  that  they 
can  not  dare  to  give  any  other  report.  The  actual  loss  in  the  Leesburg  fight, 
say  prisoners,  killed,  wounded,  drowned,  and  missing,  was  thirty-three  hun 
dred.  Your  papers  state  no  such  result.  Every  few  days  a  large  batch  of 
prisoners  are  brought  here.  Yesterday,  twenty-three  cavalry  were  brought 
down;  their  horses  and  all  captured.  Sent  off  two  hundred  and  fifty  to 
Alabama  on  Wednesday;  about  fifteen  hundred  still  remain  here.  If  they 
attempt  to  hang  those  taken  as  privateers,  their  rank  will  be  hung  here. 
Already  lots  have  been  drawn,  and  each  unhappy  man  is  confined  in  the  cell 
for  criminals  prepared  for  the  condemned.  In  no  way  can  the  North  get 
ahead  of  the  South.  Plenty  of  stout  hearts,  abundance  of  provisions,  full 
supply  of  ammunition,  army  well  equipped.  The  finest  long-range  rifle  cannon 
and  columbiad,  that  strikes  terror  whenever  fired.  The  whole  South,  with  a 
united  voice  and  solemn  resolve,  have  willed  to  be  free  from  the  North  or 
perish  in  the  effort.  All  feel  hopeful  and  sanguine  of  success,  willing  to  en 
dure  any  and  all  privations,  even  to  life  itself.  If  the  North  could  only  know 
how  vain  their  efforts  to  conquer  the  South,  or  subdue  the  rebels,  they  would 
give  it  up.  If  they  do  know  the  fact,  their  acts  are  only  to  damage  the 
South,  to  gratify  an  intense  hatred  for  losing  so  good  a  customer  as  the  South 
has  been;  but  in  carrying  on  the  war,  every  blow  they  give  strikes  back  with 
redoubled  force,  in  loss  of  life  and  building  up  a  debt  which  they  will  never 
see  paid.  As  for  the  Union  must  be  preserved,  it  is  all  a  farce ;  the  old  Union 
is  broken,  never  again  to  be  united.  This  is  a  fixed  fact.  Every  day  the 
blockade  lasts  only  tends  to  make  the  South  more  independent  of  tho  North, 


REBEL   CORRESPONDENCE.  141 

AS  every  variety  of  mnnufnrtnre  is  sprincrin<r  np.  Just  think  of  it:  a  few 
months  ttince  there  was  uo Government  whatever  here;  now  it  is  fully  organ 
ized,  and  every  department  is  in  successful  operation.  A  large  army  has  been 
organized  and  well  sustained,  and  can  whip  three  times  their  weight  in 
Yankee  flesh  or  foreigners  either.  The  crops  have  been  abundant,  money  is 
plentiful,  and  confidence  between  man  and  man,  all  standing  shoulder  to 
ihoulder,  determined  to  undergo  extermination  before  subjugation.  The 
women  and  children  uniting  in  the  one  common  effort,  besides  the  slaves  all 
at  home  laboring  to  sustain  our  army  with  provisions  to  repel  the  common 
foe  against  us.  To  conquer  such  a  people,  relying  upon  the  God  of  battles 
to  sustain  them,  is  simply  ridiculous.  In  all  our  struggles,  the  hand  of  the 
/Almighty  is  plainly  visible  ;  for  our  many  sins  we  may  be  scourged  and  have 
to  suffer  much,  but  putting  our  trust  in  Him,  though  many  be  slain,  yet  He  in 
tends  all  for  our  good.  It  is  a  source  of  no  little  gratification  to  feel  that  God 
is  with  us  in  this  struggle,  and  to  expect  some  reverses  is  natural  enough,  but 
the  result  is  only  a  question  of  time  :  the  longer  we  are  persecuted,  the  greater 
loss  of  life  and  money  the  North  will  sustain,  and  accomplish  nothing  at  last. 
In  one  thing  the  Yankees  have  been  mistaken  :  that  was,  to  incite  the  negroes 
to  insurrection ;  but  be  it  said  to  their  advantage  when  the  struggle  is  over, 
that  where  one  black  face  with  a  true  heart  has  turned  against  us,  ten  white, 
faces  with  black  and  false  hearts  have  done  so ;  and  I  regret  so  many  in 
Alexandria  are  of  that  class,  but  most  of  foreign-born  or  Yankees,  who  never 
had  any  sympathy  with  the  institutions  of  the  South.  Amidst  all  the  horrors 
of  the  war,  Richmond  is  increasing  in  population  and  realizing  great  and  un 
paralleled  prosperity.  Nearly  every  branch  of  business  is  a  success.  Manu 
factories  are  doing  well.  We  have  a  very  large  number  of  Alexandrians  here, 
and  most  of  them  have  profitable  employment.  John  McC.  J.  is  here  in  office 
at  one  thousand  dollars  salary ;  Wells  A.  Lockwood  is  in  a  bank  at  one  thou 
sand  dollars  salary.  I  could  extend  the  list  of  friends  here.  Mr.  E.  K.Witmer 
and  child  arrived  safely ;  all  of  them  will  keep  house  together.  Tell  H.  P. 
I  received  a  letter  from  his  partner,  S.,  and  he  sent  me  a  letter  for  H.,  which 
I  will  forward  with  this,  hoping  it  may  reach  him,  as  I  trust  all  our  letters, 
safely.  As  you  all  have  both  piano  and  melodeon,  we  would  like  for  Lu.  to 
send  round  and  get  F.'s  piano  and  melodeon  and  take  care  of  it  for  me,  using 
both  as  much  as  they  please.  If  not  inconvenient,  we  would  like  them  to 
«end  and  get  them.  I  have  never  heard  one  word  from  Mr.  B.  since  I  left. 
I  hope  he  will  be  able  to  get  along  without  trouble  and  meet  with  no  reverses. 
It  is  a  sad  state  of  things  that  friends  should  thus  be  separated,  and  for  no 
fault  of  ours,  the  fault  being  at  the  door  of  demagogues  and  politicians.  Awful 
'  will  be  the  account  to  settle  at  the  Day  of  Judgment  for  so  much  cruelty  wan 
tonly  inflicted  upon  innocent  men,  women,  and  children.  Surely  their  cup  is 
fast  filling  up,  and  vengeance  will  overtake  them.  We  have  been  disappointed 
in  sending  this  as  I  expected,  but  now  have  a  chance  in  a  day  or  two.  Our 
G-eneral  Assembly  met  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  last  Wednesday,  to  organize 
imew  for  the  South.  They  expect  to  get  along  without  large  boards  to  man*- 
age  their  affair? — only  a  small  committee  responsible  to  the  Assembly.  Theresa 


142          UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

goes  over  to  Petersburg  next  Thursday,  to  spend  a  week  or  so.  Our  Congress 
and  Legislature  are  in  session.  The  State  Convention  has  adjourned.  We 
have  seen  Lincoln's  message — a  poor  thing.  IIovv  vastly  he  is  mistaken  about 
Tennessee  and  North  Carolina,  lie  will  find  both  Kentucky  and  Missouri 
going  with  the  South.  He  may  well  recommend  the  fortify  ing  of  Northern 
cities,  fearing  European  intervention  or  aid  from  that  quarter.  It  is  all  for 
fto  purpose  this  detestable  land-pirate  war  is  carried  on;  they  never  can  con 
quer  the  South  We  are  getting  stronger  every  day.  Men  enlisting  and 
implements  of  warfare  increasing  weekly.  Some  new  engines  of  warfare  have 
been  invented  that  will  be  used  in  the  next  battle,  that  will  carry  death  and 
destruction  to  any  army  coming  in  contact  with  it.  Of  this  I  can  not  speak 
further;  but  only  an  opportunity  offer  to  use  them,  and  they  will  rue  the  day 
they  ever  thought  of  subjugating  a  free  and  enlightened  people.  We  all 
unite  in  affectionate  love  to  you  all,  praying  a  merciful  Providence  may  watch 
over  and  keep  you. 

I  am,  affectionately,  your  bother,  S. 

It  will  always  be  an  historical  fact,  over  which  the  loyal 
heart  will  sadly  wonder,  that,  while  the  cause  of  treason  was 
rarely  betrayed  by  its  professed  friends,  the  most  threaten 
ing  danger  at  the  North  was  the  treachery  of  those  who  lived 
under  and  and  even  hurrahed  for  the  old  flag. 

No  future  historian  of  the  civil  war  will  probably  ever 
attempt,  nor  will  the  records  of  the  quartermasters'  de 
partment  ever  show  the  vast  amount  of  public  stores  and 
other  property  wantonly  abandoned  and  destroyed  by  its 
faithless  servants. 

All  over  the  boundless  arena  of  conflict  were  scattered 
the  best  materiel  of  war — its  most  abundant  supplies — in 
fragments  and  decaying  masses  ;  a  spectacle  not  beheld,  and 
therefore  unappreciated,  by  the  people  at  home. 

It  is,  however,  no  neAV  thing  under  the  sun,  and  peculiar 
to  no  party  in  power. 

The  Mexican  war  was,  perhaps,  never  surpassed  in  this 
aspect  of  national  conflicts.  The  speculations  were  so  re 
mote  from  the  great  commercial  centers  of  the  country,  the 
people  knew  but  little  of  the  manifold  and  lawless  specula 
tions. 

The  late  war  offered  opportunities  of  every  possible  sort 
for  unprincipled  traffic ;  some  of  them  lawful,  and  many 
more  unmitigated  robbery.  " Uncle  Sam"  was  the  victim 
of  this  sharp  practice,  and  therefore  it  flourished  with  the 
air  of  respectability  and  comparative  impunity. 


FRAUDS   BY  GOVERNMENT   EMPLOYEES   AND   OTHERS.         143 

In  one  instance,  a  telegraph  operator  retained  important 
official  messages,  and  even  charged  for  Government  dis 
patches.  Death  itself  has  no  barrier  to  the  mercenary  trade. 
The  embalming  of  the  dead,  and  the  transportation  of  the 
bodies  to  friends  at  a  distance,  were  occasions  for  unblush-. 
ing  extortion. 

As  we  have  suggested,  the  atmosphere  of  war  is  petrify 
ing  to  the  moral  sensibilities  of  men  who  yield  to  its  de 
moralizing  influence,  and  they  will  do  deeds  in  the  presence 
of  death,  and  with  their  own  threatened  every  moment, 
which,  in  the  purer,  calmer  air  of  their  domestic  and  social 
life,  would  be  utterly  repulsive  and  un thought  of  by  them 

CLERKS  and  employees  of  the  Government,  whose  business 
it  was  to  make  returns  of  the  amount  of  forage  and  supplies 
received  from  the  contractors,  it  was  found  were  bribed  by 
the  latter  to  make  false  entries,  and  thus  increase  the  weight 
fraudulently,  to  a  greater  or  less  figure/  My  investigation 
of  the  transactions  disclosed  the  astounding  fact  that  these 
employees  had  increased  the  amount  of  supplies  furnished  by 
sixteen  contractors  to  the  amount  in  money  of  over  two  hun 
dred  thousand  dollars  ;  which,  in  compliance  with  my  sugges 
tion,  was  deducted  from  the  sum  to  be  paid  the  contractors, 
on  their  final  settlement  with  the  Government. 

All  means  were  resorted  to,  by  men  who  attracted  the 
notice  of  the  bureau,  to  escape  arrest.  When  bribery  and 
coaxing  failed,  threats  were  used,  to  secure  their  immunity 
from  merited  exposure  and  punishment.  I  was  not  unfre- 
quently  cautioned  by  a  member  of  the  Cabinet,  against  ex 
posure  to  personal  violence  and  even  assassination.  The 
letter  copied  below  refers  to  a  communication  of  an  attorney. 
A  German,  named  Volk,  who  had  in  his  possession  a  large 
number  of  horses,  nearly  all  of  which  belonged  to  the  Gov 
ernment,  was  arrested,  and  the  horses  taken  from  him.  As 
usual  in  similar  cases,  Yolk  employed  an  attorney.  After  a 
full  and  patient  hearing  of  the  case,  I  returned  to  Yolk  nine 
of  the  horses,  which  could  not  be  proved  to  belong  to  the 
Government.  The  attorney,  after  exhausting  legal  argument 
to  get  the  rest  of  the  animals,  wrote  a  letter,  in  which  he  in 
timated  that  he  had  possession  of  certain  papers  reflecting 
unfavorably  upon  my  private  and  official  character,  and  that 


144  UNITED   STATES   SECKET   SERVICE. 

tlieir  presentation  to  tlie  President  would  make  my  immediate 
dismissal  from  the  service  certain.  But,  if  I  would  recom 
mend  the  Quartermaster-General  to  restore  the  horses,  and 
appoint  a  friend  of  his  on  my  police  force,  he  would  forward 
me  the  papers,  and  spare  me  the  disgraceful  exposure  by 
Mr.  Lincoln.  In  reply,  I  wrote  as  follows  : — 

OFFICE  PROVOST-MARSHAL  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ) 
WASHINGTON,  December  15. 1S62.  S 

To  F.  B.,  Attorney  and  Counselor  at  Law, 
Washington,  D.  0.  :— 

SIK — Your  note  of  this  date  is  received.  Previous  to  my  giving  you  any 
order  for  the  payment  of  the  nine  horses,  I  took  much  pains  in  investigating 
the  case,  and  satisfied  myself  that  Volk  was  entitled  to  the  pay  for  the  said 
nine  horses,  and  no  more.  I  have,  as  yet,  seen  no  proof  or  facts  that  would 
warrant  me  in  recommending  the  Quartermaster's  Department  to  pay  for 
any  more  horses  on  Volk's  account. 

If  you  can  produce  any  satisfactory  proof  that  any  person  or  persons  in 
my  employ  extorted  money  from  Volk,  I  will  not  only  cause  the  amount  to 
be  refunded,  but  will  immediately  discharge  and  arrest  such  person  or  per 
sons.  In  relation  to  certain  papers  you  refer  to,  which  you  say  you  will  fur 
nish  me  with,  that  might  be  used  greatly  to  my  annoyance,  I  beg  leave  to 
reply,  that  I  am  not  in  the  market  as  a  purchaser  of  any  such  documents. 

The  parties  you  speak  of  as  being  on  my  track,  and  whom  you  say  you 
will  exercise  your  skill  to  keep  off,  I  have  no  fears  of;  therefore  you  are  at 
iibei  ty  (so  far  as  I  am  concerned)  to  let  them  loose  as  soon  as  you  may  think 
proper. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1862,  I  was  sent  for  by  Mr.  Lincoln 
to  make  a  A  investigation  respecting  the  brutal  treatment  of 
slaves  in  Lower  Maryland.  This  whole  section  had  been 
visited  by  the  Union  troops,  and,  as  a  natural  consequence, 
the  slaves  were  escaping.  There  seemed  to  be  something  so 
fascinating  to  the  ignorant  bondmen,  that  they  would  follow 
them,  as  if  charmed  by  the  glittering  bayonet  and  blue 
uniform,  which  never  failed  to  awaken  a  strange  longing  for 
liberty.  It  is  not  military  ambition,  but  an  inspiration, 
which  seizes  them.  They  are  ready  to  fall  in  and  keep  step 
to  the  martial  airs  of  freedom. 

An  illustration  of  the  interesting  peculiarity  of  the  race 
came  under  my  observation  during  one  of  the  well-known 
raids  by  General  Kurtz,  from  Suffolk,  on  the  Weldon  rail 
road.  The  First  District  Cavalry,  a  regiment  I  had  raised, 
and  of  which  further  mention  will  be  made,  was  divided 
into  front  and  rear  guard.  The  advance  of  the  forces  was 
the  first  appearance  of  Union  troops  among  these  patient 


KEBEL   BRUTALITY    TO   SLAVES.  145 

"servants"  of  the  region.  To  be  informed  that  we  were 
"Yankees,"  was  enough,  without  the  slightest  hint  of  our 
plans  or  destination,  to  stir  the  most  stupid  toiler  like  a 
trumpet-call.  The  hoe  was  dropped,  the  plow  and  cart 
abandoned.  Even  the  women,  moved  by  the  same  wild 
impulse,  deserted  their  cabins,  and  all  together  rushed  to 
the  rear  of  the  army,  and  stepped  to  the  music  of  the  march 
for  days,  and  sometimes  for  weeks.  They  dreaded  more 
than  death  the  return  to  their  owners,  or  recapture  by  them. 

When  it  became  necessary  to  leave  several  hundred  at 
Reams' s  Station,  in  our  hurried  movement  backward,  they 
lingered  about  instead  of  going  forward,  and  their  frantic 
agony  was  heart-rending. 

A  very  cruel  instance  of  the  welcome  given  to  a  recap 
tared  slave,  occurs  to  me  in  this  connection.  One  Carpenter, 
a  notorious  secessionist,  was  a  ruffian  and  a  terror  to  all 
Onion  men.  0  o  frighten  the  slaves,  and  prevent  them  from 
running  away,  he  tied  a  captured  man  to  a  tree,  in  a  nude 
condition,  whipped  him  with  a  board  til  exhausted,  then 
set  his  slaves  at  work.  When  this  master  arid  fiend  was 
rested,  he  returned  to  the  beating,  until  death  closed  the 
scene.  There  was  a  formal  arrest,  but  the  majority  of  his 
" fellow-citizens"  were  in  sympathy  with  him,  and  he  was 
soon  at  liberty.  Subsequently,  however,  he  was  arrested 
for  treason,  and  confined  in  the  Old  Capitol  prison. 

It  is  a  matter  of  history,  that  at  this  period  of  the  National 
struggle  for  existence,  the  cause  of  the  war  was  ignored  by 
the  North.  Not  so  with  the  South;  there,  the  "  corner 
stone"  was  brought  forth  to  the  world's  admiring  view,  and 
the  flag  of  treason  waved  proudly  over  it.  There  was  then 
some  excuse  for  England's  sneer  at  our  unbroken  loyalty  to 
the  South  in  her  defense  of  the  aristocratic  claim  of  superi 
ority  over  all  other  American  races. 

I  have  never  had  the  honor  of  being  called  a  reformer, 
or  an  "abolitionist,"  but  I  do  not  deny  that  my  sense  of 
justice,  and  my  sympathies,  have  been  with  the  injured 
and  oppressed,  irrespective  of  color,  or  position  in  society. 
I  have,  therefore,  during  the  entire  period  my  bureau  hag 
served  the  loyal  cause,  unhesitatingly  given  the  whole 
power  of  the  department  to  the  protection  of  the  defense- 
10 


146  UNITED   STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

less  negro,  whenever  lie  was  the  victim  of  prejudice  or 
passion. 

In  common  with  thousands  who  were  brought  to  face 
the  practical  effect  of  the  slave  system  during  the  war,  I 
have  seen  the  soul  of  tyranny  in  it,  whose  lust  of  power 
spared  not  the  blood-bought  Union,  but  longed  to  crack 
the  whip  over  the  hated  "  Yankee." 

Necessarily  "  behind  the  scenes,"  I  saw  the  demon  dis 
guised  by  the  bland  expression  of  the  "  chivalry,"  and 
learned  that  the  "kind,  Christian  masters"  were  so  in  spite 
of  the  system  which  they  sustained — they  were  naturally 
magnanimous  men,  or  governed  by  genuine  religious  prin 
ciple,  modified  by  a  wrong  education  to  the  approval  of 
gigantic  wrong. 

I  could  fill  pages  with  the  narratives  of  fiendish  scorn 
of  the  "nigger,"  while  he  was  docile  and  unresisting  as 
the  lamb  led  to  the  slaughter.  Nor  has  the  spirit  of  the 
peculiar  institution  died  with  the  formal  existence  of  slavery 
and  the  defeat  of  its  sworn  friends — a  fact  the  country  may 
realize  when  the  retributive  storm  evoked  by  the  countless 
mounds  of  starved  prisoners  of  the  loyal  North,  and  the 
nameless  graves  of  the  murdered  bondmen,  shall  again, 
though  in  a  new  aspect,  bewilder  with  darkest  fears  our 
wisest  statesmen. 

Fairfax  Court-House  was  for  two  years  within  our  lines, 
and  occupied  as  an  outpost  by  our  army.  Here  lived  a 
citizen  by  the  name  of  P.,  with  whom  boarded  several  of 
the  staff  officers.  His  daughter,  Miss  F.,  was  a  young 
and  decidedly  good-looking  woman,  with  pleasing,  insinua 
ting  manners.  She  discoursed  fluently,  and  with  enthu 
siasm,  of  the  Union  cause,  impressing  her  admiring  guests 
with  her  loyalty  and  intelligence.  Meanwhile,  she  carried 
her  commission  as  a  rebel  spy.  This  document,  in  its  original 
form,  was  found  through  the  confidence  reposed  by  Miss 
F.  in  a  female  subordinate  in  my  bureau,  who  played  the 
part  of  a  Southern  lady  going  to  her  friends.  Miss  F.  opened 
ner  heart  to  the  young  adventurer,  and  also  her  bed,  in  which, 
between  the  mattress  and  its  nether  companion,  was  con 
cealed  the  prized  and  useful  paper.  It  was  found  there 
when  the  fair  spy  was  arrested  by  my  order. 


MISS  A.  J.  J«.  147 

The  public  have  not  forgotten  the  capture  of  General 
Stoughton  and  staff,  at  Fairfax  Court-House,  by  Moseby, 
which  drew  from  Mr.  Lincoln  the  remark,  when  he  waa 
told  that  a  hundred  horses  were  captured  with  the  officer : 
4 'Well,  I  am  sorry  for  that — for  I  can  make  brigadier-gen 
erals,  but  can't  make  horses." 

It  turned  out  that  Miss  F.  was  accustomed  to  go  out 
at  night  and  meet  Moseby,  the  famous  guerrilla,  and  im 
part  whatever  information  might  be  of  service  to  the  enemy. 
Indeed,  one  day  she  was  invited  by  a  staff  officer  to  take  a 
horseback  ride  into  the  country,  and  met  Moseby,  whom  she 
introduced  to  her  escort  under  an  assumed  name,  and  passed 
along,  with  loyal  words  upon  her  traitorous  lips. 


CHAPTER     IX. 

THE  BUKEAU  IN   CANADA— IN  THE   ARMY. 
Tricks  of  False  Correspondence — Mr.  Delisle  and  the  "Secret  Secession  Legation  ' 

THE  operations  of  the  bureau  were  embarrassed  unavoida 
bly  by  the  transmission  of  false  intelligence  through  unrelia 
ble  persons  for  mercenary  ends,  of  the  gravest  importance  to 
this  or  some  other  department  of  the  Government.  Bogus 
correspondence  was  sometimes  thrown  into  my  hands  to  mis 
lead  me,  and  secure  to  the  writers  some  personal  advantages. 

For  illustration :  Early  in  1863,  a  man,  who  signed  him 
self  "  C.  M.  Delisle,"  wrote  to  the  State  Department,  ex 
pressing  an  earnest  desire  to  forward  important  information, 
dating  from  Prescott,  Canada  East,  but  post-marked  at  Og 
densburg,  New  York.  Delisle  claimed  to  be  the  agent  of 
the  "  Secret  Secession  Legation,  Canada,"  through  whose 
hands  passed  all  the  correspondence  between  the  province 
and  Richmond.  The  letter  below  is  from  this  gentleman  :— 

OGDKNSBDRQ,  May  4, 1S68. 

To  the  Honorable  W.  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State,  Washington: — 

SIR — Certain  facts  having  of  late  come  to  my  knowledge,  of  the  existence 
of  a  secret  Southern  society,  the  object  of  which  is  most  detrimental  to  the 
Federal  Government  of  the  United  States ;  and  although  a  British  subject, 
and  residing  in  the  States  but  for  a  few  months,  I  deem  it  my  duty  to  inform 
you  of  the  fact.  Having  myself  been  engaged,  in  1837  and  '38,  in  quelling 
the  Canadian  rebellion,  when  I  had  the  honor  of  holding  a  commission  in  a 
British  troop  of  cavalry,  besides  having  since  held  several  commissions  and 
appointments  under  the  Canadian  Government,  I  can  understand  the  very  great 
injury  caused  by  it  to  a  well-constituted  Government  as  yours.  However,  I 
am  one  of  those  who  are  strongly  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  would  consider 
it  a  very  great  misfortune  if  such  a  promising  republic  should  ever  be  broken 
up.  Being  unwilling  that  it  should  be  known  that  I  have  addressed  you  on 
this  subject,  I  trust  that  the  confidence  reposed  by  me  in  you  will  \x*  strictly 


SECJIET  SECESSION   LEGATION.  149 

private  and  confidential;  and  should  your  Government  think  proper  to  fur 
nish  me  the  means  of  going  to  Washington,  I  shall  then  be  most  happy  to 
substantiate  my  assertions  by  undeniable  evidence.  Had  I  had  the  means  at 
my  disposal,  I  should  certainly  have  lost  no  time  in  seeing  you  personally. 
As  to  my  character,  it  is  beyond  censure,  and  with  regard  tc  my  family  Con 
nections,  they  are  of  the  highest  standing  in  Canada,  where  I  was  born  and 
brought  up.  As  it  might  occur  to  you  that  this  is  a  ruse  to  obtain  money,  I 
can  assure  you  that  it  is  not  so;  and  I  am  confident  that  when  I  shall  have 
made  you  acquainted  with  the  whole  of  the  facts  connected  with  my  infor 
mation,  it  will  put  you  in  a  position  to  discover  and  reap  invaluable  informa 
tion  for  the  good  of  your  Government.  I  may  also  state  that  1  shall  have  no 
objections  in  offering  my  services  in  bringing  the  whole  thing  to  light,  as  some 
one  would  have  to  be  employed  by  you  on  the  frontiers  and  in  Canada,  every 
inch  of  which  is  most  familiar  to  me. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  obedient,  &c., 

C.  M.  DEI.ISLK. 

Four  or  five  letters  more,  of  a  similar  character,  were  for 
warded  to  me  by  Mr.  Seward,  with  the  indorsement  that 
he  believed  much  valuable  information  could  be  procured 
from  Delisle  respecting  persons  in  connection  with  whom  he 
professed  to  be  acquainted. 

Accordingly  I  met  him,  when  he  unfolded  to  me  one  of 
the  grandest  and  most  skillfully  arranged  plans  ever  devised, 
the  great  importance  of  which  had  rendered  it  necessary 
that  an  organization  should  be  formed,  with  the  sounding 
title  already  quoted,  whose  secretary  was  "  Wm.  Sibbald." 
So  completely  had  these  villains  made  out  their  programme, 
the  single  object  of  which  was  to  obtain  large  sums  of 
money,  that  it  was  with  much  difficulty  that  their  plot  was 
finally  discovered.  The  letters  which  follow  were  well  cal 
culated  to  deceive  the  most  vigilant  servants  of  the  Govern 
ment  : — 

MONTREAL,  April  27,  1S63. 

SIB — The  president  of  the  "Secret  Secession  Legation  in  Canada,"  being 
desirous  to  appoint  &n  agent  on  the  border  of  the  United  States  and  Canada 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  conveyance  of  the  secret  mails,  &c.,  from 
Richmond,  Va.,  to  Europe  via  Canada,  and  your  name  having  been  transmit 
ted  to  him  by  a  friend  of  yours  in  the  United  States,  as  a  person  in  whom  all 
confidence  can  be  placed,  for  your  intelligence,  integrity,  and  forbearance,  I 
therefore,  sir,  beg,  at  his  request,  to  make  you  the  following  offer,  for  your 
acceptance  or  refusal,  viz. : — 

First.  That  you  will  consent  to  become  "Secret  Agent"  in  the  United 
States  for  the  above  Legation. 


150  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

Second.  That  you  will  endeavor,  by  secret  means,  to  forward  in  packages, 
so  made  up  and  of  such  size  as  to  avoid  detection  at  the  hands  of  the  United 
States  Government,  all  the  letters,  &c.,  delivered  to  you  monthly  by  persons 
from  Richmond,  Va.,  and  who  will  have  been  previously  instructed  in  New- 
York  of  the  nature  of  their  mission  toward  you. 

You  will  also  give  them  any  information  they  may  require  to  make  a 
tilent  and  secret  entrance  in  Canada,  by  indicating  to  them  the  roads  by 
which  the  crossing  of  the  boundary  lines  can  be  more  easily  eifected  and  with 
less  danger. 

It  will  also  be  your  duty  to  deliver  to  them,  on  their  making  themselves 
known  to  you  by  means  of  countersigns,  which  in  all  cases  will  be  given  to 
you  in  time  by  the  Legation  in  Canada,  any  letters,  papers,  money,  &c.,  that 
will  have  been  secretly  given  to  you  for  them,  either  from  here  or  from  other 
tecret  agents  serving  in  Canada  or  the  United  States. 

Also,  that  you  will  tind  means  to  carefully  conceal  any  documents,  &c., 
from  the  vigilance  of  the  United  States  Government  police,  till  such  docu 
ments,  &c.,  are  safely  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  "emissary"  it  may 
please  our  worthy  President,  Mr.  Jefferson  Davis,  to  send  to  us. 

Third.  That  you  will  be  willing  and  ready  to  move  from  one  place  to  the 
other,  at  six  hours'  notice  from  the  Legation  here,  at  any  time  the  said  Lega 
tion  may  order  such  a  move,  and  everywhere  act  as  secret  agent  to  them, 
seeking  and  gathering  any  information  they  may  require,  and  then  faithfully 
transmitting  the  same  to  the  President  here. 

Should  this  offer  meet  your  approbation,  your  remuneration  will  be  as 
follows,  viz. :  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  for  every  letter,  paper,  &c.,  not 
bearing  an  official  stamp;  ten  dollars  for  any  document,  letter,  paper,  &c., 
bearing  our  official  Government  stamp,  and  which  in  both  cases  you  will 
succeed  in  forwarding  safely  to  the  Legation  in  Canada. 

On  the  other  hand,  should  you  be  ordered  to  move  from  one  city  to 
another,  twenty-five  cents  per  mile  will  be  allowed  you  on  journeys  per 
formed  by  rail  or  by  boat ;  and  fifty  cents  per  mile  for  distances  crossed  in 
vehicles  drawn  by  horses — all  payments  to  be  made  to  you  in  gold.  In  con 
clusion,  I  hope,  sir,  that  the  confidence  the  President  of  the  Legation  here 
has  placed  in  you,  based  upon  the  recommendation  of  your  recommender, 
will  never  be  betrayed,  and  the  strictest  secrecy  will  be  kept  by  you,  should 
jou  accept  or  reject  this  proposition. 

Awaiting  your  early  reply,  which,  sir,  please  address  to  Wm.  Siltbald,  sim 
ply,  General  Post,  Montreal, 

I  remain,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

WM.  SIBBALD, 

Secretary  to  the  Secret  Secession  Legation,  Canada. 
To  C.  M.  DELISLK,  Esq.,  Ogdensburg,  New  York. 

MONTREAL,  May  1, 1868. 

SIR — I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  answer  to  my  cominunica 
tion  of  the  27th  ultimo,  and  I  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  to  tender  yon 
the  thanks  of  our  President. 


"LEGATION"  SCHEMES.  15 j 

I  am  aware  that  the  Agency,  should  you  accept  it,  might  become  a  littl* 
annoying  in  case  of  detection ;  but  no  such  accident  can  happen,  if  secrecy 
be  your  course  of  conduct,  and  much  will  depend  upon  yourself  whether  the 
police  agents  of  uhe  United  States  seize  the  dispatches. 

The  character  your  benefactor  in  the  United  States,  who  has  desired  us  to 
suppress  his  name,  has  given  yon,  has  induced  us  to  broach  such  a  subject  to 
you.  Suffice  to  say,  that  his  motive  is  one  prompted  by  the  personal  esteem 
be  entertains  for  yon,  and  also  to  have  the  felicity  of  withdrawing  you  from 
your  present  embarrassing  position. 

The  post  cannot  of  course  be  one  except  of  great  lucrativeness,  as  the 
arrangements  made  here  are  very  complete,  and  on  a  large  scale,  although 
ttrictly  ignored  ~by  any  stranger  to  the  u  Legation" 

To  state  positively  what  you  might  derive  monthly  from  the  agency,  is  a 
mere  impossibility,  as  no  one  here  is  aware  of  the  number  of  packages  the 
"emissary"  maybe  able  to  convey;  but  you  can  rest  assured  that  a  very 
large  income  must  unavoidably  be  drawn  from  it. 

The  letters  and  official  dispatches  will  be  in  all  cases  written  upon  the 
thinnest  paper  manufactured,  to  make  concealment  easier,  and  in  many  cases 
will  be  mere  press  copies. 

Your  remuneration  will  be  paid  you  by  the  "  emissary  "  himself,  on  a*- 
livery  of  the  documents,  by  draft  on  New  York,  to  an  amount  equal  to  gold, 
or,  if  more  convenient  and  suited  to  you,  in  specie. 

"When  ordered  to  move,  sufficient  money  will  be  sent  you  from  here,  with 
the  orders  to  take  you,  all  expenses  paid,  to  any  place  chosen  and  back  to 
Ogdensburg,  as  the  latter  place  will  be  your  headquarters,  except  you  think 
another  spot  would  facilitate  the  entrance  of  mails  in  Canada:  this  point, 
however,  is  entirely  left  to  your  suggestion. 

The  President,  in  thanking  you,  wishes  me  to  say  that  he  is  Avell  pleased 
with  the  character  he  has  of  you,  and  that  no  person  is  better  suited  than 
you  for  the  fulfillment  of  his  object;  and  that,  from  your  honesty,  genteel  and 
gentlemanlike  bearing,  you  will  manage  to  initiate  yourself  into  the  Ameri 
can  agents'  favors,  and  acquire  from  them  valuable  information  regarding 
the  u lookout  parties"  on  the  frontier  and  outlets  around  Richmond. 
I  remain,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

WM.  SIBBALD, 

Secretary  to  the  Secret  Secession  Legation  in  Canada. 
To  C.  M.  DELISLE,  Esq.,  Ogdeusburg,  New  York. 

I  will  be  glad  to  hear  your  answer  on  receipt  of  this,  whether  the  proposi 
tion  is  accepted  or  rejected. 

No  pains  were  spared  by  these  conspirators  to  impress 
the  officers  of  the  Government  with  the  reality  of  their  lying 
scheme  to  rob  its  Treasury.  In  harmony  with  this  cool  pur 
pose  and  policy,  communications  were  forwarded  to  individu 
als  anticipating  that  they  would  ultimately  reach  my  hands. 
On  this  point  I  shall  quote  certain  correspondence  with 


152  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

Captain  H.   B.  Todd,   provost-marshal  of  the  District  of 
Columbia : — 

HEADQUARTERS  PROVOST-MARSHAL'S  OFFICE,  \ 
WASHINGTON,  D.  0.,  May  20, 1863.  j 

Colonel  L.  C.  BAKER  : — 

I  am  credibly  informed  that  one  Charles  Michael  Delisle,  now  living  in 
Ogdensburg,  New  York,  has  made  arrangements  with  the  Secret  Secession 
Legation,  in  Montreal,  Canada,  or  with  their  secretary,  William  Sibbald,  to 
convey  the  rebel  mails  and  dispatches  into  Canada,  as  soon  as  the  emissariss  * 
from  Richmond  deliver  them  to  him. 

Delisle  is  paid  by  this  Secret  Legation,  and  now  stops  at  Johnson's  HOMM 
Ogdensburg;  of  late  he  has  entered  his  name  as  F.  A.  Delisle,  instead  of  ^ 
M.     My  informant  has  seen  his  correspondence  with  said  Legation,  and  read 
his  (Delisle's)  proposition. 

He  has  already  sent  dispatches  to  Montreal,  undetected,  which  have  been 
forwarded  to  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slid  ell,  through  the  mails  of  the  Montreal 
Ocean  Steamship  Company,  and  others  are  very  soon  expected  to  go  through. 
I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

HENRY  B.  TODD, 
Captain  and  Provost-Marshal 


It  is  only  necessary  to  add  that,  on  the  arrest  of  Delisle,  he 
confessed  that  there  was  no  "Secret  Secession  Legation"  in 
Canada,  so  far  as  he  knew,  but  that  the  design  of  the  parties 
engaged  in  the  transaction  was  simply  to  defraud  the  United 
States  Government ;  and,  had  it  not  been  defeated  by  the 
vigilance  of  this  bureau,  it  would  have  proved,  of  course,  a 
very  handsome  speculation  for  them. 


CHAPTER    X. 

WEALTHY   TRAITORS— FRUITLESS   SCHEMES. 

John  H.  Waring — His  Operations — An  Efficient  Tool — Walter  Bowie — A  Wild  Careef 
— Rebel  Mail — Contrabands — Extracts  from  the  Private  Journals  of  Rebel  Spies. 

THE  insane  treason  of  the  Marylanders  revealed  itself 
very  strikingly  in  an  incident  which  now  occurred. 

Mr.  John  H.  Waring,  a  wealthy  and  respectable  planter, 
residing  on  the  banks  of  the  Patuxent  River,  had  long  been 
suspected  of  assisting  the  enemy,  and  devoting  his  dwelling 
to  the  secret  service  of  the  blockade-runners,  spies,  and 
mail- carriers  of  the  Confederacy.  His  family  had  ever  been 
known  as  the  most  scornful  haters  of  the  Federal  Govern 
ment,  outspoken,  and  fearless.  The  female  members  of  it, 
by  their  connection  with  disloyal  friends  of  high  standing 
in  Baltimore,  had  special  facilities  for  communicating  with 
the  South.  He,-  individually,  did  not  enter  into  the  bitter 
denunciations  of  the  Government,  owing  partly  to  his  ad 
vanced  age,  and  partly  to  his  occupation  of  time  on  the 
plantation. 

Walter  Bowie,  whose  family  resided  in  Maryland,  and 
whose  uncle  gave  the  name  to  the  favorite  weapon  of  the 
chivalry,  had  early  in  the  struggle  cast  in  his  lot  with  the 
traitors. 

A  reckless,  unprincipled,  and  daring  young  man,  with 
considerable  culture,  he  was  selected  by  the  Secretary  of 
War  to  act  as  a  spy.  Born  and  brought  up  in  Lower 
Maryland,  he  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  country. 

To  him  are  many  families  there  indebted  for  the  loss  of 
fathers  and  sons.  He  raised,  at  different  times,  squads  for 
the  rebel  service,  ran  across  the  Potomac  and  sold  on  specu 
lation  ;  now  with  Moseby's  guerrillas,  then  with  the  authori 
ties  at  Richmond,  and  soon,  perhaps,  in  Washington.  I 
decided,  if  it  were  possible,  to  capture  him.  Aware  that  he 


i;,4  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

was  assisted  and  concealed  by  the  Waring  ladies,  I  directed 
my  attention  to  that  quarter.  Sending  four  detectives  to  the 
house,  I  ordered  them  to  surround  it  on  a  certain  night. 
They  secreted  themselves  accordingly,  waiting  lor  the  dawn, 
the  usual  way  of  detour  movements.  The  proximity  of  the 
men  somehow  became  known  to  the  inmates  of  the  house, 
but  every  precaution  had  been  taken  to  prevent  escape. 

As  the  light  of  day  appeared,  an  aged  negro  servant  left 
the  dwelling  with  a  washtub  upon  her  head,  and  walked 
toward  a  spring  near  by  for  water.  Upon  her  approach,  an 
officer  stopped  her,  and  inquired  about  the  family.  She 
could  give  no  information,  and  was  allowed  to  pass.  When 
sufficient  time  had  elapsed  for  her  return,  the  detective  sus 
pected  that  he  had  been  deceived,  and  taking  the  path  to  the 
spring,  discovered  the  tub,  and  just  beyond  a  horse  saddled 
and  bridled,  tied  to  a  tree.  The  whole  ruse  at  once  flashed 
upon  his  mind.  The  venerable  negress  was  no  other  than 
Walter  Bowie.  He  saw  that  the  horse  was  watched,  and 
went  on  afoot. 

Chagrined  at  the  defeat  of  his  plan,  the  officer  returned  to 
the  house,  and  found,  on  searching  it,  the  spy's  uniform, 
sash,  and  sabre.  It  was  ascertained  later  that  a  daughter 
of  Mr.  W.,  Mrs.  Ducket,  had  blackened  and  dressed  Bowie 
for  the  occasion.  A  more  careful  examination  of  the  prem 
ises  led  to  the  discovery  of  several  suits  of  rebel  uniform. 

From  this  time  till  autumn  he  was  successfully  engaged 
in  raids  upon  defenseless  sutlers  and  unarmed  citizens,  until 
at  last,  crossing  the  Potomac  with  a  company  of  his  asso 
ciates,  went  to  Sandy  Hill,  broke  open  a  store,  and  pillaged 
it.  I  dispatched  a  squad  in  pursuit,  and  surrounded  his 
camp  next  morning  at  Booneville.  A  skirmish  ensued,  and 
Bowie  was  shot  with  a  double  charge,  and  instantly  killed. 

The  following   episode  in  the  darkly  romantic   history 
flings  a  lurid  light  into  the  "habitations  of  cruelty"  which 
have  been  protected  by  the  "  starry  flag"  of  freedom,  reveal 
ing  their  domestic  scenes : — 

OFFICE  PROVOST-MARSHAL  WAR  DBPARTMMTT,  i 
WASHINGTON,  July  9,  1863.  | 

Honorable  E.  M.  STA.NTON,  Secretary  of  War  :— 

SIR — I  respectfully  submit  the  following  statement,  and  request  further 
directions  in  the  matter. 


CRUELTY   TO  NEUKOES.  157 

On  Monday  last,  having  received  information  that  Walter  Bowie,  a  noto 
rious  rebel  and  spy,  had  been  on  a  recent  visit  to  the  house  of  Mrs.  Lizzie 
Bowie,  in  Prince  G-eorge  County,  Maryland,  and  also,  that  subsequent  to  said 
visit,  on  Sunday  night  last,  a  loaded  wagon  containing  clothing  had  been  sent 
from  Mrs.  Bowie's  house  to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Worthington,  near  the  Poto 
mac,  for  transmission  to  Virginia,  I  detailed  a  force  from  this  office  to  inves 
tigate  the  matter,  and  arrest  the  said  Walter  Bowie  and  any  other  parties  en 
gaged  in  disloyal  practices. 

Walter  Bowie  succeeded  in  evading  the  search  made  for  him,  but  it  wa§ 
ascertained  that  on  Sunday  night  a  two-horse  wagon  was  sent  from  Mrs. 
Bowie's  house,  driven  by  a  colored  man  named  Daniel  Grant,  and  in  charge 
of  Mr.  Contee  Warren  ;  that  two  large  trunks  were  in  said  wagon,  and  that 
the  same  were  taken  some  miles  from  Mrs.  Bowie's,  and  then  taken  from  the 
wagon  and  deposited  by  the  side  of  the  road,  and  there  left,  the  driver, 
Daniel  Grant,  stating  to  the  said  officers  that  he  understood  that  said  trunks 
contained  clothing,  &c.,  and  were  intended  for  Walter  Bowie.  My  officers 
then  visited  the  house  of  Mr.  Worthington,  charged  with  forwarding  clothing, 
goods,  &c.,  from  Mrs.  Bowie's  into  Virginia.  A  full  examination  of  his  house 
and  premises  was  made,  but  nothing  found  of  a  contraband  nature.  In  the 
process  of  such  examination,  my  officers,  on  reaching  the  garret  of  Mr.  Wor- 
thington's  house,  found  the  entrance  closed  and  fastened  with  a  padlock. 
Upon  being  refused  admission,  the  door  was  forced  open,  and,  to  their  surprise 
and  horror,  found  there  two  almost  naked  negro  girls,  chained  together  by  the 
wrists,  and  exhibiting  upon  their  persons  evidences  of  a  most  brutal  and 
bloody  punishment.  Their  backs  were  covered  with  blood,  and  gashed,  as 
with  a  sharp  knife,  from  the  shoulders  to  the  loins,  presenting  a  spectacle  of 
horrid  cruelty  and  suffering  which  words  cannot  describe. 

One  of  these  girls  was  owned  by  Mrs.  Lizzie  Bowie,  and  the  other  by  Mrs. 
Worthington ;  and  it  is  understood  that  they  had  been  beaten  with  a  trace 
chain  by  three  men,  namely,  Mr.  Worthington,  Contee  Warren,  and  Mr.  Hall, 
overseer  of  Mrs.  Bowie,  and  that  Mrs.  Bo-wie  had  ordered  the  punishment  on 
the  girl,  who  was  her  slave.  I  do  not  understand  that  any  law,  human  or  di 
vine,  confers  the  right  to  inflict  upon  helpless  women,  black  or  white,  the 
frightful  torture  borne  by  these  poor  and  defenseless  negro  girls.  Moved  by 
pity,  and  the  hope  that  speedy  justice  from  the  strong  arm  of  the  Government 
would  be  visited  upon  the  cowardly  miscreants  who  have  dared  to  commit  so 
infamous  a  crime,  my  officers  arrested  Mr.  Worthington  and  Contee  War 
ren,  and  brought  them  to  this  city,  and  they  are  now  in  the  custody  of  this 
office  until  further  orders  of  the  War  Department  are  received.  I  regret  to 
say  that  the  officers,  not  feeling  authorized  to  act  as  liberators,  left  the  negro 
girls  chained  and  bleeding  in  the  garret  of  Worthington's  house. 
Respectfully  yours, 

L.  0.  BAKER, 
Provost-Marshal  of  the  War  Department 

The  captives  were  released,  and,  with  an  expression  of 
the  deepest  gratitude  upon  their  sad  faces,  they  crawled  out 


158  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

of  the  garret,  in  which  they  had  not  room  to  stand  erect, 
only  to  suffer  again.  I  was  informed  that  one  of  them  was 
soon  afterward  found  in  the  woods,  dead,  witli  marks  of  tlio 
terrible  scourge  upon  her  body.  The  only  crime  of  the  poor 
girls  was,  obeying  the  instinctive  love  of  freedom,  fireci  into 
an  irresistible  impulse  at  the  sight  of  the  "boys  in  blue." 

A  large  rebel  mail  was  found  between  the  beds  of  Mrs. 
Ducket's  room,  and  specimen  packages  of  blockade  goods 
in  trans itu  from  Europe  were  secreted  in  different  parts  of 
the  house.  Opening  the  mail,  we  ascertained  that  Mr. 
Waring' s  mansion  had  long  been  the  rendezvous  of  all  who 
served  the  Southern  cause,  and  &  post-office  for  their  cor 
respondence. 

Waring  was  conveyed  to  Washington,  and  tried  by 
military  commission,  and  sentenced  to  two  years  in  Fort 
Delaware.  On  his  trial  it  was  shown,  that  for  months  he 
had  used  his  horses  and  wagons  to  carry  rebel  recruits  to 
the  Potomac  ;  and,  even  the  very  night  of  his  arrest,  he  had 
brought  Bowie,  in  his  Confederate  dress,  to  his  house  for 
concealment.  After  his  conviction,  the  Secretary  of  War 
directed  that  all  of  his  animals  and  other  property  should 
be  confiscated  and  sent  to  Washington.  Accordingly,  I 
repaired  to  the  plantation,  and  found  one  hundred  and  ten 
slaves,  impatient  to  be  free.  Unwilling  to  act  without  in 
structions,  no  proclamation  of  emancipation  having  then 
appeared  in  behalf  of  the  millions  in  bondage,  and  in  sym 
pathy  with  our  cause,  upon  appealing  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  with 
a  detailed  account  of  the  case,  and  saying  to  him,  "  I  did  nof 
like  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  their  liberation,"  he  char 
acteristically  replied  :  "  Baker,  let  them  alone,  and  they  will 
free  themselves!"  I  took  the  hint,  and  returned  to  the 
plantation,  whither  I  had  sent  forty  Government  wagons  tu 
transport  to  the  capital  the  confiscated  property. 

The  more  intelligent  slaves  appointed  a  committee  to 
wait  on  me,  to  inquire  what  action  I  intended  to  take  in 
their  case.  I  reported  my  interview  with  "  Massa  Linkum," 
as  they  always  called  him,  and  his  significant  remark.  It 
was  quite  sufficient  for  them. 

The  next  morning,  with  my  train,  I  started,  but  refused 
to  recognize  their  escape  by  affording  Government  convey- 


WAKING'S   ARREST.  159 

ance ;  when,  in  a  surprisingly  brief  time,  each  family  was 
seen  with  the  humble  stock  of  domestic  furniture  packed, 
and  ready  to  follow  the  wagons  of  "Massa  Linkum." 

Such  patient  endurance  of  fatigue,  and  uncomplaining 
toil,  to  secure  the  coveted  boon  of  liberty,  I  never  before 
saw;  patience  in  the  pursuit  of  freedom  did  "its  perfect 
work." 

It  war:  soon  known  to  the  neighbors  of  Waring  that  hi3 
' '  servants ' '  were  en  route  to  Washington,  who  gathered 
in  large  numbers,  and,  fully  armed,  demanded  from  me  the 
return  of  the  caravan  of  laden  fugitives.  I,  of  course,  re 
fused  to  do  it.  The  conviction  of  Waring,  and  the  taking  of 
his  property,  in  my  opinion,  released  the  slaves — morally,  if 
not  legally. 

They  then  threatened  violence,  and  even  attempted  to 
stop  the  train.  The  arrest  of  the  ringleaders  quieted  the 
mob,  and  the  refugees  arrived  safely  in  Washington. 

Waring' s  arrest,  and  the  consequences  to  him,  have  been 
much  criticised,  and  regarded  by  the  South  as  an  arbitrary 
act ;  but  when  we  consider  that  he,  with  his  entire  family, 
were  engaged  directly  in  the  rebel  service,  the  evidence  of 
which  was  overwhelming,  it  must  appear  to  all  loyal  minds 
that  the  proceeding  was  justifiable,  and  even  necessary. 

I  copy  extracts  from  the  pages  of  a  private  journal  of 
the  rebel  spies  captured  on  the  Potomac,  which  afford  a 
glimpse  of  life  in  such  adventurous  service,  that  will  interest, 
I  am  sure,  many  of  my  readers : — 

JAMES  R.  MILBURN. 

July  23d,  1863.  Crossed  the  Potomac  River,  from  Md.  to  Va. 

24th.  Virginia  House,  Heatharville,  Northumberland  County,  Va. ;  arrived 
at  Union  Wharf,  Rap  River,  8  p.  M. 

25th.  Miller's  Hotel,  south  side  of  Rapidan ;  started  for  Richmond  in  com 
pany  with  Captain  Cox,  of  North  Va. ;  walked  to  Princes,  thirty-five  mile* 
from  Rap. 

26th.  Breakfasted  at  Old  Church.  Arrived  in  Richmond  4  p.  M.,  Pow- 
hatan  Hotel ;  wrote  home. 

27th.  Called  on  Mr.  Barton. 

28th.  In  Richmond.     "Disconsolate." 

29th.  Richmond. 

80th.  Left  Richmond  for  Buffalo  Springs,  Mecklenburg  County,  Va. ;  passed 
tlirouirh  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  Weldon,  N.  C. 


160  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

81st.  Buffalo  Springs,  2  P.  M.     Room  49,  Rowdy  Row. 

August  1st.  First  impressions  of  Springs  not  very  pleasing. 

2d.  Formed  the  acquaintance  of  several  pleasant  gentlemen. 

3d.  Found  more  agreeable  company. 

4th.  Took  a  long  walk  in  company  with  Mr.  Frank  Ilobbs,  of  Md. ;  talked 
of  dear  old  Maryland. 

5th.  Large  arrivals  ;  unlimited  scope  for  the  study  of  human  nature;  to 
me  a  look,  word,  or  mere  motion  of  body,  hand,  or  head,  will  often  analyze  a 
person's  character;  first  impressions  are  often  lasting,  and  generally  correct. 

6th.  Each  trying  to  outwit  the  other.     Grouping  of  nature. 

7th.  Wrote  to  Captain  Carlisle,  Moseby's  Cavalry,  and  to  my  friend  E.  N. 
Spiller,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

8th.  Introduced  to  Mrs.  Paxon,  wife  of  the  proprietor  of  Springs.  I  have 
closely  observed  her;  think  she  is  well  suited  to  make  married  life— -yes — 
painfully  disagreeable.  Some  talk  of  the  freedom  and  bliss  of  persons  before 
marriage.  If  this  be  true,  what  is  the  state  of  one  coupled  to  a  disagreeable 
person ;  concentrated  hell  surely. 

9th.  Tried  to  meditate  on  a  portion  of  the  Bible  ;  mind  unsettled ;  thoughts 
like  chaff  before  the  wind.  Left  cottage  for  a  walk  to  compose  myself. 

10th.  Drinking  the  oozings  of  human  nature. 

llth.  Nothing  to  do  ;  yet  not  like  Miss  Flora  McFlimsey,  nothing  to  wear. 

12th.  Enjoyed  myself  by  dancing ;  find  very  little  intellectual  conversation  ; 
thus  far  during  my  visit  have  not  heard  a  solid  subject  discussed. 

13th.  Like  a  butterfly  on  the  wing,  pursuing  pleasure. 

14th.  How  various  are  the  classifications  of  the  mind;  some  appear  to  be 
guided  by  reason,  others  by  a  species  of  brutal  instinct. 

15th.  As  a  general  thing  the  visitors  seem  to  be  friendly. 

16th.  Ladies  very  agreeable;  endeavor  to  repay  their  kindness. 

19th.  Modesty  is  a  polite  accomplishment,  and  often  an  attendant  upon 
merit;  it  wins  the  hearts  of  all.  None  are  more  disgusting  in  company  than 
the  impudent  and  presuming. 

20th.  What  a  fine  place  to  show  a  person's  breeding.  Train  up  a  child, 
&c.,  &c. 

21st.  This  day  to  me  is  a  memorial  one,  no  one  can  tell  my  feelings,  perhaps 
the  thoughts  of  another  one  the  same ;  whether  it  is  a  day  of  folly  or  happi 
ness,  the  future  will  show.  My  intention  was  honest,  howsoever  this  affair  may 
terminate  ;  perhaps  sympathy  was  the  cause  of  my  action  and  words.  I  must 
Bay,  I  do  not  understand  myself  in  this  case.  Wrote  a  long  letter  to  my  friend 
Spiller. 

22d.  Miss  Lucy  A.  Merritt,  of  Brunsw-ick  County,  Va.,  returned  to  Buffalo ; 
a  long  walk  and  confidential  talk  with  her.  Having  noticed  my  letter  to  Mr. 
Spiller,  asked  to  see  it.  Miss  Merritt  had  no  evil  intentions  when  she  made 
this  request,  this  I  firmly  believe;  I  complied  with  her  wish,  as  it  seemed  to 
be  a  test  of  friendship. 

23d.  Placid  as  a  lake,  nothing  unusual  transpired. 

24th.  In  some  young  people  the  milk  of  human  kindness  seems  long  since 
to  have  curdled;  I  would  advise  a  little  soda  to  correct  the  acidity  of  their 


J.  R.  MILBURN'S  JOURNAL.  161 

nature.     A  lady  should  at  all  times  command  her  tongue,  especially  in  a  pablio 
assembly,  where  a  word  is  an  index  to  intellect  and  character. 

25th.  Nothing  extraordinary  to-day. 

26th    Preparing  to  leave  Buffalo  Springs. 

27th,  Good-bye,  all  friends.     Confusion  to  my  enemies,  if  any. 

28th.  Left  Buffalo  for  Richmond,  Va. ;  at  Linwood  House. 

29th  to  31st.  Richmond,  Va. 

September  1st.  Enlisted  in  the  Confederate  States  Navy. 

2d.  Left  Richmond,  with  Captain  John  W.  Hebb,  of  Louisiana,  for  a  cruise 
on  the  Chesapeake  arid  its  tributaries.  Left  the  cars  at  Milford  Station;  dined 
at  Lloyd's,  Caroline  County,  Virginia;  camped  at  Central  Point,  Caroline 
County. 

3d.  Camped  on  the  Rapidan  River,  at  Mr.  Warren's;  one  meal  at  11  p,  M. 

4th.  Lighton's  Ferry,  Essex  County ;  breakfast,  dinner,  supper,  9  p.  M. 

5th.  Crossed  the  Rap.  3£  P.  M.  ;  one  meal,  9  p.  M.  ;  camped  in  the  woods. 
Camp  Rust,  Westmoreland  County,  five  miles  from  Rap.  River. 

6th.  Camp  Rust ;  two  meals. 

7th.  Received  a  new  supply  of  arms  from  Richmond;  visited  Miss  Rust; 
two  meals. 

8th.  Detailed  to  go  on  special  duty;  arrested  William  Hammond,  a  half- 
breed  Indian,  for  boating  Confederate  deserters  across  the  Potomac.  In  camp, 
11  p.  M.,  tired  and  hungry. 

9th.  Camp  Rust. 

10th.  Broke  camp,  10  A.  M.,  for  Nomoni  River,  twenty-five  miles  ;  dined 
.n  the  road ;  camped  in  Richmond  County. 

llth.  Marched  all  day;  camped,  9  A.  M.  ;  one  meal. 

12th.  Dined  at  8  p.  M.  ;  rained  all  night,  half  drowned  next  morning. 

13th.  Roasted  corn  early  this  morning;  went  out  gunning  for  something 
to  eat,  hog,  calf,  or  any  thing;  nothing  procured. 

loth.  Went  to  Nomoni  Ferry,  5  P.  M.  ;  duck,  crab,  corn  bread,  butter,  and 
milk. 

16th.  Dined  with  Miss  Arnest. 

17th.  Fight  between  Manning  and  Fitzgerald  ;  drew  my  pistol  to  shoot 
Fitzgerald,  who  threatened  to  strike  me,  while  in  charge  of  camp,  with  a  sword. 
I  wisely  desisted  from  the  intended  blow.  Nothing  to  eat. 

18th.  No  provisions;  sent  out  a  party  to  forage,  no  success. 

19th.  Killed  a  hog  early  this  morning. 

20th.  All  quiet ;  truly  a  placid  state.  Strolled  about  e  woods  as  if  I  had 
i»c  home.  Home  is  the  dearest  place  on  earth,  especially  /-hen  it  is  impossible 
t3  be  there. 

21st.  Killed  another  hog. 

22d.  On  picket,  fork  of  road. 

23d.  About  to  break  camp. 

5i4th.  Yanks  attacked  our  forces,  at  Mathias  Point,  with  infantry  and  gun 
boats  :  shelled  us  out. 

25th.  Moved  camp. 

26th.  Sick  all  day. 
11 


162  UNITED   STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

27th.  On  Nomoni  again ;  off  on  an  expedition. 

28th.  Unwell. 

29th.  Feel  Better. 

30th.  Sick. 

October  1st.  Still  sick. 

2d.  Headache. 

3d.  In  hospital  at  Bethel  M.  E.  Church. 

4th  and  5th.  Chill. 

6th  to  llth.  Sick  at  Mr.  Ames's. 

12th.  Colonel  Black  well's,  on  Potomac. 

13th.  Crossed  to  St.  Mary's  County,  last  night. 

14th.  Patuxent  River. 

loth  to  17th.  Calvert  County,  Maryland. 

18th.  Sharp's  Island. 

19th  to  28th.  Tilligman's  Island. 

31st.  Chills. 

November  1st.  Tilligman's  Island. 

3d.  Tilligman's  Island.     Captain  Ilebb  captured  last  night. 

4th.  Yankee  cavalry  crossed  the  bay  to  Fair  Haven,  A.  A.  Countj, 

30th.  Cove  Point.     Cast  away. 

December  1st.  Cove  Point.     Boat  repaired. 

2d.  On  the  way  to  the  Confederate  States. 

22d.  Calvert  County.     Slept  in  an  unoccupied  house. 
.    23d.  do.  do.  do.  Nothing  to  eat. 

29th.  St.  Mary's  County.  Went  to  Rob.  Thompson's,  cold  and  hungr/  t 
WG-ild  not  let  me  warm  myself,  or  give  me  any  thing  to  eat.  Slept  near  Poin4; 
No  -point. 

30th.  Took  to  the  woods;  afraid  of  the  Yanks. 

31st.  In  a  hogpen ;  wet  and  cold. 

January  1st,  1864.  Live  in  hope  that  I  may  safely  reach  my  destination, 
confident  of  ultimate  success,  though  every  thing  seems  to  oppose. 

12th.  Pasquith's.     Yankee  raid  from  Point  Lookout. 

14th.         do.  Yankees  gone. 

17th.  Corinth  Church. 

18th  and  19th.  Heathsville.     (18th.  Boat  stolen.) 

25th.  Heathsville.     Went  to  Machota  Creek,  in  woods. 

February  1st  and  2d.  Heathsville.     Yankees  about. 

12th.  Attempted  to  cross  the  Potomac  last  night  in  company  with  two 
Jadies  and  Charley ;  wind  fair  from  S.  W.,  but  too  heavy ;  compelled  to  turn 
back.  Slept  at  Mr.  Bailey  G.  Haynie's. 

13th.  Wind  S.S.E. ;  at  B.  G.  Haynie's  ;  crossed  the  Potomac ;  rowed  from 
Precher's  Creek,  Va.,  to  Point  Lookout;  sailed  to  Patuxent  River;  lauded 
ladies,  7  A.  M.  Sunday,  14th. 

15th.  Plum  Point,  Calvert  County,  Md.  Slept  in  an  nnoccupied  house  on 
shore. 


0.  W.  MILBURN'S  JOURNAL.  163 


CHARLES  W.  MILBURN. 

July  23d,  1863.  Rau  the  blockade  across  the  Potomac;  a  little  cloudy; 
landed  at  Cone  Rive'* ;  slept  on  the  beach  the  remainder  of  the  night ;  mos 
quitoes  very  thick,  anl  large  enough  to  bite  through  my  coat. 

24th.  Arrival  at  -Hoathsville  ;  dined  at  Virginia  House ;  started  at  3  p.  M. 
for  Union  Wharf,  on  the  Rap.  River;  arrived  too  late  to  get  across  the  river; 
remained  all  night. 

25th.  Crossed  the  river;  started  for  Bowler's;  procured  conveyance  from 
the  ferryman  to  Millar's;  dined  at  Brown's  Hotel ;  impossible  to  obtain  con 
veyance  to  Richmond;  after  finding  a  berth  in  a  market-wagon  for  my  bag 
gage,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  to  walk ;  started  at  4  p.  M.  ;  walked  to  Mr. 
Princess's,  seventeen  miles  ;  remained  all  night. 

26th.  Started  at  daybreak  for  Old  Church,  10  miles;  arrived  at  8.30  A.  M. 
breakfasted  ;  arrived  at  Richmond,  4  p.  M.  ;  Powhatan  Hotel ;  wrote  home. 

27th.  Obtained  a  pass  from  General  Winder,  to  pass  unmolested  in  the  city 
for  thirty  days ;  called  to  see  Mr.  Barton. 

30th.  Left  Richmond  for  Buffalo  Springs,  Mecklenburg  County,  Va. ; 
passed  through  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  Weldon,  N.  C.,  and  arrived  at  my  desti 
nation,  31st,  at  2  P.  M. 

31st.  Occupying  room  No.  49;  prospect  very  pleasing. 

August  7th.  Still  at  Buffalo,  enjoying  myself  wonderfully;  wrote  to  Cap 
tain  Carlisle,  C.  S.  A.,  and  Mr.  Spiller. 

22d.  Wrote  to  Mr.  Spiller,  Atlanta,  Ga.;  Miss  Lucy  A.  Merritt  returned 
to  Buffalo,  stayed  till  Sunday ;  had  a  very  pleasant  time  during  her  visit. 

31st.  A  beautiful  day.  Received  orders  from  Captain  H.  to  prepare  to 
leave  Richmond  to-morrow  morning,  under  command  of  Captain  Walter 
Bowie,  C.  S.  N. 

September  1st.  After  arriving  at  the  depot,  received  another  order,  to 
wait  until  Wednesday.  Went  to  new  R.  Theatre ;  a  splendid  plot,  thougk  not 
well  acted. 

2d.  Eeft  Richmond  on  the  Fred,  train,  with  Captain  Walter  Bowie, 
twenty-two  men  in  all  ;^  dined  at  Lloyd's  »n  Caroline  County,  Va. ;  encamped 
at  Center  Point,  Caroline  County,  Va 

3d.  Got  something  to  eat  at  Sparta,  about  11  P.  M.  ;  camped  on  the  Rap- 
pahannock  River,  at  Mr.  Warren's. 

4th.  Camped  at  Leighton's  Ferry,  Essex  Co.,  Rappahaimock  River ;  got 
some  cabbage  and  bacon  about  9  A.  M. 

5th.  Acting  cook  under  difficulties;  crossed  the  Rap.  River,  3.30  p.  M.  ; 
supped  in  Westmoreland  County,  9  p.  M.  ;  camped  in  the  woods,  on  Mr.  Rnst'a 
plantation,  five  miles  from  Rap.  River. 

6th.  Breakfasted  about  9;  corn  bread  and  crackers,  commonly  called 
•'shortcakes;"  amused  myself  by  gathering  fas-grapes  near  the  camp;  con 
structed  a  chebang  in  the  new  camp.  Captain  Hebb  arrived  with  arms  and  a 
guard  of  eight  men  ;  went  to  sleep  at  9  o'clock. 

7th.  Breakfast  sent  to  me  by  Miss  Lizzie  Rust;  accepted  an  invitation  to 
di»e  at  Mr.  Rust's;  had  quite  a  pleasant  time  with  ladies. 


164  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

8th.  Jim,  with  thirteen  others,  detailed,  at  3  A.  M.,  to  go  from  camp  on 
special  duty;  they  arrived  in  camp  about  11  P.  M.,  with  one  prisoner,  named 
"William  Hammond,  who  seemed  to  be  very  uneasy;  on  guard  from  12  p.  M. 
to  2  o'clock.  Beautiful  night. 

9th.  Left  camp  with  Captain  Bowie,  to  make  a  reconnoissance ;  break 
fasted  in  camp  ;  returned  to  camp,  about  11  P.  M.,  tired  and  hungry;  "scene 
on  the  road." 

10th.  H.  H.,  a  prisoner,  started  for  Richmond  in  charge  of  Private  Rusloe ; 
broke  up  camp  at  10  A.  M.  ;  started  with  Captain  Bowie  for  banks  of  Potr- 
mac,  Mathias  Point ;  another  party,  under  Captain  II.,  started  for  Nornoni 
River;  marched  all  day,  without  any  thing  to  eat;  slept  at  Mr.  McClanna- 
han's,  Machota  Creek. 

llth.  Marched  till  about  4  p.  M.  ;  slept  at  Dr.  Ilooes' ;  Captain  Band  and 
myself  had  quite  a  pleasant  time  with  the  ladies. 

12th.  Captain  B.  sent  me  to  Waterloo,  and  orders  to  Lieutenant  KM 
C.  S.  S.  C. ;  started  from  W.  about  dusk,  for  Mathias  Point. 

12th.  Raining  very  hard ;  slept  in  rain  all  night  without  a  blanket. 

13th.  Capt.  B.  left  about  dark,  with  eight  men,  for  Maryland  (beautiful  nigat 
for  crossing),  leaving  me  in  charge  of  camp. 

14th.  Nothing  unusual  transpired ;  short  of  rations ;  mosquitoes  a  great 
plague;  no  sleeping  for  them. 

15th.  Sent  out  a  foraging  party  ;  nothing  procured. 

16th.  Impossible  to  get  provisions;  prepared  to  go  into  Maryland  after 
some. 

iVth.  Wind  high  ;  no  prospect  of  crossing  to-night ;  dined  with  Mr.  Wash 
ington  ;  sent  Phil.  Key  out  to  get  something  to  eat ;  obtained  very  little. 

18th.  A  slight  supper  last  night ;  nothing  since,  except  some  green 
corn. 

19th.  All  quiet  on  the  Potomac  ;  nothing  to  eat;  8  p.  M.  crossed  the  Poto 
mac  (men  in  full  uniform  and  arms);  landed  in  Charles  County,  Md. 

20th.  Went,  in  company  with  P.  K.,  to  visit  Dr.  C. ;  kindly  treated.  How 
glad  I  am  to  be  once  more  in  old  Maryland. 

21st.  This  morning  two  men  missing ;  supposed  to  have  deserted. 

22d.  Heard  from  Captain  B. ;  a  slight  skirmish  with  the  Yanks;  prepare 
to  return  to  Virginia. 

23d.  Two  Confederate  prisoners  escaped  from  Point  Lookout  and  came  to 
us  to-day.  Having  procured  what  we  desired,  we  returned  to  Virginia. 
Wrote  home  before  leaving  Maryland. 

Novel  ber  20th.  Left  Baltimore,  1  A.  M.,  on  the  steamer  John  Pentz,  for 
West  River. 

21st.  Fair  Haven,  Herring  Bay,  A.  A.  County,  Md.,  Medley  House. 

22d.  Fair  Haven.     Set  out  on  my  journey. 

23d.  Plum  Point,  Calvert  County,  Md.  Breakfasted  at  a  negro  hut;  slept 
at  S.  Y.  Dorsey's ;  rained  all  night. 

29th.  Mr.  Bowers.  Started  for  Virginia  at  dark;  wind  overblew  me; 
forced  to  beach  my  boat  near  Cove  Point ;  slept  in  woods. 

30th.  Cove  Point,  Calvert  County,  Md. 


LETTEK   TO   PRESIDENT   LINCOLN. 

I  will  close  this  chapter  of  treason  and  oppression's 
crimes,  with  a  letter  to  the  President,  which,  I  need  not  say, 
elicited  all  the  sympathy  and  aid  the  great  heart  and  higli 
position  of  the  President  could  extend : — 

OFFICE  PROVOST-MARSHAL  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  I 
WASHINGTON,  September  30,  1863.  f 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  President  of  the  United  States : — 

SIR — I  beg  leave  respectfully  to  call  your  attention  to  the  facts  set  forth 
below. 

The  colored  people,  slave  and  free,  of  this  District  and  the  adjoining  coun 
ties  of  Maryland,  are  daily  subjected  to  a  more  ferocious  despotism,  and  more 
flagrant  and  shameless  outrages,  than  were  ever  before  tolerated  by  any  Gov 
ernment  claiming  to  be  either  wise  or  humane. 

It  is  well  known  to  you,  sir,  that  large  numbers,  owned  in  Maryland,  actua 
ted  by  a  supreme  desire  to  participate  in  the  blessings  of  freedom  enjoyed 
by  their  fellows  in  this  District,  are  daily,  almost  hourly,  making  attempts  to 
escape  from  their  masters,  and  fly  to  this  city. 

The  slave-owners  of  Maryland,  whose  plantations  are  becoming  desolate 
by  this  constant  exodus  of  their  chattels,  no  longer  relying  on  the  protection 
of  their  own  laws  and  legally  constituted  authorities,  have,  in  many  cases, 
formed  themselves  into  armed  bands  for  the  purpose  of  pursuing  and  recap 
turing  escaped  slaves. 

Parties  of  slaves,  men,  women,  and  children,  have  been  pursued  within 
the  bounds  of  this  District,  have  been  fiercely  assailed  and  shot  down,  or  re 
morselessly  beaten,  and  the  survivors  shut  up  in  prison,  or  conveyed  across 
the  Potomac,  within  the  protecting  arms  of  the  rebel  Confederacy. 

Not  less  than  forty  slaves  (human  beings),  by  these  lawless  encounters, 
??ere  killed ;  and  I  have  information,  that  no  less  than  three  dead  bodies  of 
slaves,  thus  cruelly  slaughtered,  are  now  lying  in  the  woods  almost  within 
sight  of  your  own  homes. 

Not  a  month  since,  an  armed  band  of  Maryland  slave-owners  surrounded 
the  house  of  a  free  negro  woman,  less  than  three  miles  from  the  Capitol,  broke 
open  the  door,  presented  loaded  pistols  to  the  heads  of  its  frightened  inmates, 
and,  after  exercising  all  their  powers  of  abuse  and  insult,  took  away  by  vio 
lence  three  free  negroes. 

Visiting  this  city,  and  protected  by  the  assumed  authority  of  Mr.  Commis 
sioner  Cox,  these  depredators  break  into  the  houses  of  colored  citizens,  thrust 
loaded  pistols  into  the  faces  of  terrified  women  and  screaming  children,  and, 
protected  by  legal  papers,  bear  off  their  victims  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the 
ash  and  prison,  or  the  hopeless  martyrdom  of  Southern  slavery. 

Along  the  borders  of  the  Potomac,  below  this  city,  male  slaves  are  now 
being  mustered  in  gangs,  and  sent  to  Virginia,  as  contributions  by  their  mas 
ters  to  the  cause  of  rebellion  ;  and  if  these  men  make  an  effort  to  escape,  they 
are  pursued  and  shot  down  by  their  unmerciful  owners. 

There  is  now  in  Marlborongh  jail,  a  negro  man,  whose  eyes  have  been  ut 
terly  destroyed  by  a  charge  of  shot  fired  wantonly  into  his  face ;  and,  not  long 


166  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

since,  two  colored  girls  were  found  chained  in  the  garret  of  a  private  Louse, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  this  city,  who,  after  having  been  cruelly  beaten  by 
three  men,  one  of  them  using  a  trace  chain  to  inflict  the  blows,  were  left,  with 
their  backs  one  mass  of  festering  wounds,  to  the  further  horrors  of  chains  and 
darkness. 

An  instance  has  just  come  to  my  knowledge,  of  a  negro  woman  and  three 
daughters,  owned  by  a  citizen  of  this  city  still  resident  here,  who  were  sent  to 
Baltimore  a  few  days  before  the  late  Emancipation  Act  was  passed,  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  evading  its  provisions.  One  of  these  daughters,  an  intelligent 
woman,  has  succeeded  in  returning  to  Washington,  and  is  now  claimed  as  a 
slave  and  threatened  with  seizure  through  the  agency  of  Mr.  Commissioner 
Cox's  summary  and  illegal  writs. 

It  can  not  be  that  such  atrocities  will  be  longer  permitted,  and  that  men, 
whose  every  sympathy  is  with  slavery,  and  its  legitimate  offspring,  treason, 
shall  be  longer  suffered  to  visit  upon  the  poor  slave  the  hatred  they  feel  to 
freedom  and  the  Union. 

I  respectfully  ask  for  such  instructions  as  shall  enable  me  effectually  to 
protect  the  now  helpless  victims  of  the  slave-masters'  vengeance,  and  the  per 
jured  oaths  of  their  friends,  official  and  otherwise,  in  this  city  and  District. 
I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

L.  C.  BAKER, 
Colonel  and  Provost-Marshal  War  Department 


CHAPTER    XI. 

SLAVERY— PLAYING  REBEL  GENERAL— FIRST  DISTRICT  CAVALRY. 

The  Hostages — Mr.  Lincoln — Deceiving  the  Rebels — A  Successful  Game — Organic 
tion  of  the  First  District  Cavalry — Its  Services. 

ABOUT  this  time,  one  hundred  rebel  citizens,  in  Lower 
Maryland,  took  possession  of  two  contraband  teamsters  in 
my  employ,  and  refused  to  give  any  account  of  the  reclaimed 
property.  I  immediately  arrested  and  confined  two  of  the 
leaders,  and  put  them  in  the  Central  guard-house,  Washing 
ton,  as  hostages,  till  the  former  were  returned.  The  indigna 
tion,  at  my  assumption  that  a  negro  was  equal  to  a  white 
'man — especially  to  one  of  the  chivalry — was  intense.  An 
appeal  was  made  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  I  was  summoned  to 
report  in  person  to  him,  which  I  cheerfully  did. 

He  said:  "Well,  Baker,  you  think  a  white  man  is  as 
good  as  a  colored  man  ?" 

I  assured  him  that  in  this  case,  at  least,  I  did ;  and  pro 
posed  to  keep  the  gentlemen  in  prison  till  the  free  negroes 
were  returned. 

The  President  acquiesced  in  the  justice  of  the  arrange 
ment,  and,  soon  after,  the  contrabands  were  restored,  and  the 
insulted,  excited  prisoners  set  at  liberty,  to  the  great  relief 
of  their  friends,   and  amusement  of  the  irreverent  "  Yan 
kees,"  who  could  not  see  the  superiority  of  Southern  blood. 

I  shall  notice  here  some  incidents  which  will  forcibly 
show  the  self-sacrifice  of  the  Maryland  secessionists,  who 
were  vastly  in  the  majority,  along  with  the  more  important 
and  melancholy  truth,  that  the  rebellion  could  never  have 
succeeded  without  the  sympathy  and  assistance  of  "North 
ern  friends."  In  addition  t<">  these  facts,  the  means  some 
times  necessary  to  ascertain  who  were  disloyal,  will  also  be 
apparent. 

A  few  days  previous  to  the  rebel  Generals  Stuart  and 


168  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

Early' s  raid  into  Pennsylvania,  I  had  the  following  paper 
prepared : — 

To  THE  FRIEXDS  OF  THE  SOUTH: — 

The  Confederate  army  is  now  on  your  border.  The  Stars  and  Bars  can 
be  seen  from  your  hills.  The  hirelings  of  the  North  are  fleeing  before  us! 
We  want  your  aid.  We  want  horses,  mules,  and  wagons.  Seventy  artillery 
horses  are  needed  for  our  batteries.  The  bearers  of  this  appeal  are  autho 
rized  by  me  to  accept  of  contributions.  If  I  receive  the  required  aid,  I  will 
pledge  myself  that  our  flag  shall  float,  within  ten  days,  from  the  Capitol  in 
Washington. 

(Signed)  J.  E.  B.  STUART, 

C,  S.  Cavalry. 

With  this  sounding  proclamation  in  my  pocket,  I  reached 
that  garden  of  Maryland,  "  Middletown  Valley,"  a  few  miles 
north  of  Harper's  Ferry.  Upon  making  application  to  the 
leading — to  the  principal  secessionists,  and  exhibiting  the 
paper,  the  highest  expressions  of  patriotism  greeted  it.  Prop 
erty  and  life  were  at  my  disposal.  And  it  was  suggested 
to  me  that  a  secret  meeting  be  called,  to  afford  all  the  oppor 
tunity  to  contribute. 

The  hour  came ;  and  I  was  introduced  to  those  present 
as  a  Confederate  officer  who  had  ventured  over  the  Potomac. 
By  this  means  a  correct  list  of  all  those  who  were  openly 
or  secretly  the  emissaries  of  Jeff.  Davis,  with  the  names  of 
those  who  contributed  horses,  was  made  out,  and  the  next 
day  I  called  at  their  residences.  After  selecting  the  best,  I 
left  the  animals  in  the  hands  of  the  owners,  to  be  called  for 
subsequently.  Meanwhile,  during  the  few  days  I  continued 
in  the  valley,  I  learned  the  strength,  resources,  and  condi 
tion  of  the  rebel  cause  there.  I  then  went  around  and  gath 
ered  up  the  horses,  and,  with  many  warm  benedictions  upon 
my  head,  left  with  sixteen  of  the  choicest  horses  the  region 
afforded.  That  night  I  started  for  Washington,  and  the  suc 
ceeding  day  I  turned  them  over  to  the  quartermaster's  de 
partment.  They  afterward  did  good  service  on  the  battle 
field  for  the  Union  ©ause. 

The  information  I  obtained,  respecting  the  forward  move 
ment  of  the  enemy,  was  followed  by  General  Hooker's  cele 
brated    march    toward   Gettysburg,   during  which  he  waa 
relieved  by  General  Meade  ;  and  the  inference  is  legitimate, 


FIRST  DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  J71 

that  it  had  no  unimportant  bearing  upon  the  great  and 
decisive  struggle,  which  saved  us  from  a  disastrous  if  not  a 
fatal  invasion. 

Some  two  months  later,  several  of  the  former  owners  of 
the  horses  appeared  in  Washington,  and  demanded  the  resto 
ration  of  their  property.  Of  course,  the  animals  themselves 
were  comparatively  of  no  consequence,  but  the  intelligence, 
of  which  they  were  made  the  occasion,  was  invaluable.  The 
claimants  were  pointed  to  the  proclamation,  their  prompt 
response  to  which,  was  no  less  the  evidence  of  disloyalty 
because  it  was  a  lure  instead  of  treason's  actual  demand. 

The  importance  of  the  bureau,  and  its  rapidly  accumula 
ting  business,  rendered  a  military  force,  exclusively  under 
my  control,  a  necessity.  Scarcely  a  day  passed  without  some 
occurrence  calling  for  cavalry  troops  to  execute  orders. 
Accordingly,  the  Secretary  of  AVar  issued  an  order  creating 
me  colonel,  and  authorizing  me  to  raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  June  29,  1S63. 

SIR — You  are  hereby  informed  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  haa 
appointed  you  colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  District  of  Columbia  Cavalry,  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States,  to  rank  as  such  from  the  twenty-ninth  day  of 
June,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three. 

Immediately  on  receipt  hereof,  please  to  communicate  to  this  department, 
through  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  army,  your  acceptance  or  non-accept 
ance;  and,  with  your  letter  of  acceptance,  return  the  oath  herewith  inclosed, 
properly  filled  up,  subscribed,  and  attested,  and  report  your  age,  birthplace, 
and  the  State  of  which  you  were  a  permanent  resident.  You  \vill  report  for 
duty  to — 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 
Colonel  L.  C.  BAKEK,  Secretary  of  War. 

First  Regiment  District  Columbia  Cavalry. 

Previous  to  this,  being  only  a  citizen,  I  was  viewed  u* 
the  light  of  no  more  than  a  civil  agent.  To  obviate  the 
hinderance  in  official  service  the  fact  interposed,  I  received 
the  commission.  Immediately  I  had  thousands  of  applica 
tions  from  men  who  desired  to  serve  in  my  battalion.  It 
was  my  desire  to  organize  a  corps  of  intelligent,  moral,  a-nd 
worthy  men.  So  common  had  it  become,  in  raising  regiments, 
to  sell  commissions  to  the  highest  bidders,  that  it  was  a 


172  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

matter  of  regular  traffic.  This  did  more  to  demoralize  and 
bring  into  disrepute  our  whole  volunteer  service  than  any 
other  single  wrong. 

At  the  outset  of  the  war,  morality  and  fitness  were  seldom 
considerations  in  the  selection  of  officers.  I  have  seen  vol 
unteer  companies,  and  even  regiments,  under  the  command 
of  those  whose  capacity  and  character  were  inferior  to  the 
majority  of  the  privates  in  the  ranks.  For  illustration  of 
this  method  of  getting  commissions,  I  add  the  subjoined 
communication,  in  answer  to  an  offer  of  one  hundred  dollars 
for  a  place  in  my  regiment : — 

OFFIOK  PROVOST-MARSHAL  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  J 
WASHINGTON,  May  IS, 1868.  f 

Mr.  J.  F.  SINGHI,  Company  D,  Fourth  Maine  Regiment, 

Army  of  the  Potomac : — 

SIR — Your  letter,  offering  one  hundred  dollars  in  gold  for  a  commission  in 
my  battalion  of  cavalry,  has  been  received.  It  is  my  intention  to  recruit 
honest  men,  and  not  rogues.  With  this  explanation,  you  will  at  once  perceive 
that  you  are  entirely  ineligible  for  service  under  my  command,  either  a* 
officer  or  private.  (Signed)  L.  C.  BAKER, 

Provost-Marshal  War  Department. 

The  regiment  was  a  splendid  body  of  troops,  and  achieved 
all  that  was  anticipated  from  it ;  and  its  services  will  appeal 
at  intervals  during  the  progress  of  the  war. 

Much  of  the  service  performed  for  the  country  will  nevei 
be  written.  The  detachments  of  men  moving  stealthily  ovei 
the  lines  of  encampment  and  battle  ;  guarding  me  or  my 
subordinates  in  perilous  adventures ;  and  other  quiet,  un 
heralded,  and  unreported  duties,  will  have  no  record  but  the 
pages  of  memory,  and,  with  the  death  of  the  actora  in  the 
varied  scenes  of  such  a  life,  be  forgotten. 

But  since  this  volume  has  been  in  progress  of  prepara 
tion  for  the  press,  a  history  of  the  troops  whom,  I  may  be 
permitted  to  say  here,  I  was  proud  to  command,  has  been 
published  by  their  former  chaplain,  the  Rev.  S.  H.  Merrill, 
of  Portland,  Maine. 

The  chaplain  states,  correctly,  that  this  regiment  was 
organized  to  remain  on  duty  within  the  limits  of  the  District 
of  Columbia.  The  entire  military  force  of  the  District  had 
failed  to  check  the  operations  of  Mosby '  s  band.  I  pledgod 


FIRST  DISTRICT  CAVALRY.  i73 

myself  to  the  Secretary  of  War  that,  if  he  would  give  me 
permission  to  raise  a  battalion  of  cavalry,  I  would  drive 
from  the  region  the  rebel  chief. 

After  the  troops  were  raised,  and  armed  with  six-shooters, 
they  became  the  object  of  intense  and  unjust  suspicion  on 
the  part  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Department  of 
Washington  and  West  Virginia,  founded  on  the  apprehen 
sion  that  his  military  honors  would  be  periled  by  the  suo 
cesses  of  the  brave  men  who  were  to  range  freely  through 
Western  Virginia. 

The  Secretary  of  War  had  so  much  confidence  in  the 
battalion,  that  he  authorized  the  purchase  of  the  best  horses 
that  could  be  procured  in  the  country,  and  remarked  that 
the  Government  could  afford  to  pay  the  expense  of  main 
taining  the  force,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  the  powerfully 
restraining  influence  upon  disloyalty  and  crime  in  the 
District. 

The  legitimate  duties  of  the  battalion  were  so  constantly 
embarrassed  by  orders  emanating  from  the  department  com 
mander,  that  I  decided  to  ask  the  Secretary  of  War  to  increase 
it  to  a  full  regiment  of  twelve  hundred  men.  The  request 
was  granted,  and  eight  additional  companies  were  raised  in 
the  State  of  Maine,  under  the  direction  of  its  patriotic  Gov 
ernor  Coney,  whose  services  during  the  rebellion  will  always 
be  gratefully  remembered  by  the  loyal  North. 

On  the  completion  of  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  I 
requested  that  it  should  be  sent  to  some  distant  field  of 
action.  The  deeply  seated  prejudice  in  the  minds  of  the 
officers  of  the  Potomac  army  against  my  bureau,  convinced 
me  that  my  troops  would  there  have  small  opportunity  to 
display  their  ability  and  heroism.  When  I  had  occasion  to 
scrutinize  some  of  their  acts,  a  major-general  remarked  to 
me,  during  a  visit  to  the  front,  in  regard  to  the  injustice  of 

which  I  had  complained,  "Your  men  are  a  set  of  d d 

spies,  and  ought  to  be  killed ;  and  the  officers  of  the  regi 
ment  are  detectives  in  disguise,  reporting  to  you  whatever  is 
said  by  the  army  commanders."  Even  the  long  raids,  the 
fights  with  Mosby's  men  in  Northern  Virginia  aud  Mary 
land,  have  scarcely  an  allusion  made  to  them  by  any  of  the 
army  officers  01  reporters.  For  nearly  two  years  the  regi- 


74  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

raent  accompanied  nearly  every  raid  made  by  the  cavalry 
along  the  front  of  the  Potomac  army. 

It  formed  the  advanced  guard  of  General  Kautz's  raid 
from  Norfolk  to  the  Weldon  Railroad.  At  Notaway  Bridge, 
Reams'  Station,  and  other  points,  it  is  a  matter  of  official 
record,  that  this  body  of  troops  did  three-fourths  of  all  the 
fighting.  My  urgent  request  to  be  relieved  from  duty  in 
Washington,  and  allowed  to  lead  my  regiment  to  the  arena 
of  battle,  was  refused  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  the 
active  command  was  given  to  Lieutenant- Colonel  E.  J. 
Conger,  who  had  no  superior  in  the  qualities  of  a  brave 
chieftain. , 

Before  he  assumed  his  duties,  he  had  been  wounded 
three  times,  and  twice  left  on  the  field  for  dead.  At  the 
time  of  Wilson's  celebrated  raid,  he  was  again  shot  through 
the  body,  and  carried  from  the  scene  of  carnage  by  his 
orderly. 

Major  J.  S.  Baker,  next  in  rank,  commanded  the  regi 
ment  until  the  close  of  the  war.  A  more  brilliant  record 
than  his  has  never  fallen  to  the  lot  of  a  young  officer. 
He  entered  the  service,  with  the  organization  of  the  regiment, 
as  Captain  of  Company  A,  which  he  commanded,  until  the 
addition  of  the  Maine  companies,  in  all  the  celebrated  scouta 
and  raids.  While  a  student  at  Madison  University,  in 
Wisconsin,  at  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion,  he  left  his 
books  for  his  country's  service.  He  was  the  first  Federal 
officer  that  entered  Lynchburg,  after  its  surrender  by  Lee. 

Major  I).  S.  Curtis,  of  the  same  State,  next  in  command, 
was  also  a  truly  brave,  discreet,  and  worthy  officer.  His 
coolness  in  battle  was  the  theme  of  general  remark  among 
the  officers  of  the  entire  brigade. 

A  more  complete  and  interesting  history  of  the  regiment 
has  been  written  while  this  volume  has  been  in  press,  by 
the  Rev.  S.  H.  Merrill,  chaplain  of  the  regiment.  From 
these  annals  I  shall  quote  the  history  of  the  regiment  in  its 
general  outline  of  achievement — the  more  freely,  because 
written  by  another,  who  gives  to  the  brave  troopers  the 
honors  which  they  so  richly  won.  I  shall  give  the  con 
densed  narrative  uniform  with  my  own  records,  with  this 
credit  for  it  awarded  to  the  worthy  chaplain : 


FIRST  DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  175 

The  First  District  of  Columbia  Cavalry  was  composed  of 
a  fine  body  of  men.  A  single  battalion,  raised  in  the  District 
of  Columbia,  for  special  duty  at  the  seat  of  Government,  un 
der  command  of  Colonel  L.  C.  Baker  (Provost-Marshal  of 
the  War  Department),  and  familiarly  known  as  "Baker's 
Mounted  Rangers,"  formed  the  nucleus  of  this  regiment. 

Long  will  "Baker's  Cavalry"  be  remembered  in  Wash 
ington,  and  through  a  wide  region  around,  as  the  "terror  of 
evil-doers." 

To  this  command  eight  companies  were  added  in  1863, 
embracing  about  eight  hundred  men  enlisted  in  Maine,  so 
that  it  became,  to  this  extent,  a  Maine  organization. 

No  charge  of  bad  faith  is  intended,  nor  is  it  known  who 
was  responsible  for  the  change  of  the  original  destination  of 
the  regiment,  if  any  change  there  was  ;  but  it  is  due  to  the 
men  from  Maine,  and  due  to  historic  truth,  to  record  the  fact 
that  they  enlisted  under  the  distinct  assurance  that  they 
would  never  be  required  to  serve  outside  the  District  of  Co 
lumbia  ;  and  if  the  command  was  in  no  degree  demoralized 
by  the  subsequent  disappointment  of  the  men,  in  being  sent 
to  the  front,  and  being  placed  in  the  most  perilous  positions 
there,  it  is  all  the  more  to  their  credit. 

Company  D,  numbering  one  hundred  and  forty  men,  un 
der  command  of  Captain  J.  W.  Cloudman,  left  Augusta  on 
the  22d  day  of  October,  1863,  and  arrived  at  Camp  Baker,  in 
Washington,  on  the  25th. 

The  three  officers  of  this  company  were  commissioned  by 
the  Piesident  of  the  United  States,  while  those  of  the  other 
companies  from  Maine  were  commissioned  by  the  Governor 
of  Maine. 

A  few  days  after  its  arrival  in  Washington,  the  company 
was  ordered  to  Anandale,  ten  miles  west  of  Alexandria, 
where  it  remained  on  duty,  under  command  of  Lieutenant 
Howe,  till  the  27th  of  January,  when  it  was  ordered  with  the 
battalion  to  Yorktown. 

Embarking  on  board  the  steamer  Conqueror,  it  arrived  at 
Yorktown  on  the  28th,  and  went  into  camp  about  two  miles 
from  the  city,  on  the  bank  of  the  beautiful  York  River.  A 
morning  so  summer-like  and  scenery  so  charming,  few  of  our 
men  had  ever  seen  before  in  mid- winter. 


I7G  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

The  next  day  they  moved  about  eight  miles  west,  and 
went  into  camp  about  three  miles  from  William sburg. 

January  30th,  at  daybreak,  the  bugle  sounded  "boots 
and  saddles,"  and  in  half  an  hour  they  were  off  on  a  raid. 

If  the  reader  should  ask  what  this  means,  the  answer 
would  be,  it  means  an  armed  expedition  into,  the  enemy's 
country,  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  information,  or  of  cap 
turing  or  destroying  public  property,  or  both,  always 
respecting  private  property,  excepting  so  far  as  "military 
necessity"  requires  its  capture. 

In  the  raid  just  referred  to,  the  men  marched  about  twelve 
miles,  and  returned  to  camp  with  nothing  of  special  interest 
to  report. 

An  expedition  was  made  to  Bottom  Bridge,  on  the  Chick- 
ahominy,  twelve  miles  from  Richmond,  on  the  5th,  6th,  7th, 
and  8th  of  February,  which  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  the 
men  who  participated  in  it.  They  did  little  lighting,  but 
much  hard  work.  From  the  time  they  left  camp,  on  the 
5th,  till  they  returned,  on  the  8th,  they  were  hardly  out  of 
the  saddle. 

This  regiment  was  distinguished  by  the  superiority  of  the 
carbines  with  which  it  was  armed.  It  was  the  only  regiment 
in  the  army  of  the  Potomac  armed  with  "  Henry's  Repeating 
Rifle."  The  peculiarity  of  this  gun  is,  that  it  will  fire  six 
teen  shots  without  reloading.  It  is  cocked  by  the  same 
movement  of  the  guard  that  opens  and  closes  the  breech — 
the  exploded  cartridge  being  withdrawn  and  a  fresh  one 
supplied  at  the  same  time  and  by  the  same  movements.  The 
copper  cartridges  are  placed  in  a  tube,  extending  the  entire 
length  of  the  barrel,  on  the  under  side.  From  this  they  are 
fed  into  the  gun  by  the  operation  of  the  lever  guard  ;  mean 
time  a  spiral  spring  forces  down  the  cartridges  as  fast  as  they 
are  discharged.  The  whole  device  is  of  the  simplest  nature. 
The  work  is  strong,  and  the  whole  thing  is  so  nearly  perfect, 
that  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  of  any  improvement.  The  sub 
sequent  history  of  this  regiment  proves  it  to  be  a  terribly 
effective  weapon.  Fifteen  shots  can  be  given  with  it  in  ten 
seconds.  Thus,  a  regiment  of  one  thousand  men  would  fire 
fifteen  thousand  shots  in  ten  seconds.  After  having  witnessed 
tl.e  effectiveness  of  this  weapon,  one  is  not  surprised  at  the 


FIRST    DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  177 

remark,  said  to  have  been  made  by  the  guerrilla  chief,  Mosby, 
after  an  encounter  with  some  of  our  men,  tAat  "he  did  not 
care  for  the  common  gun,  or  for  Spencer's  seven-shooter,  but 
as  for  these  guns,  that  they  could  wind  up  on  Sunday  and 
shoot  all  the  week,  it  was  useless  to  light  against  them." 

On  the  16th  of  February,  Company  F  was  mounted,  and 
remained  at  Camp  Baker,  engaged  in  daily  drilling  until  the 
7th  of  April.  At  that  date  it  left  Washington  for  Norfolk, 
and  the  next  day  joined  a  squadron  of  the  old  battalion  on 
picket  at  Great  Bridge. 

On  the  14th  the  company  marched  to  Deep  Creek,  where 
it  was  joined  by  three  companies  of  the  old  battalion,  already 
referred  to  as  having  been  on  picket  duty  at  Newport  News. 

These  companies  remained  here  on  picket  duty  until  the 
organization  of  the  cavalry  division,  under  General  Kautz, 
two  weeks  later. 

On  the  5th  of  May  they  marched  with  the  cavalry  divi 
sion  under  Kautz,  on  his  first  raid.  The  object  of  these  raids 
was  twofold,  viz. :  to  weaken  the  enemy  by  destroying  pub 
lic  property,  and  by  drawing  off  detachments  in  pursuit.  A 
successful  raid  requires  a  judicious  selection  of  routes,  rapid 
marches,  short  halts,  and  sudden  and  unexpected  blows.  In 
this  service,  General  Kautz  was  ' '  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place." 

In  this  movement  he  had  passed  through  Suffolk  and 
crossed  the  Black  Water  (where  his  march  could  have  been 
easily  arrested  by  destroying  the  bridge),  before  the  enemy 
became  aware  of  his  purpose.  At  half -past  two  o'clock  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  7th,  he  had  marched  a  distance  of  sev 
enty  miles,  and  struck  the  Weldon  Railroad  just  in  time  to 
intercept  a  body  of  rebel  troops  on  their  way  to  Petersburg. 
A  thunderbolt  from  a  clear  sky  could  hardly  have  been 
more  astounding  to  the  enemy.  Instantly  he  was  attacked. 
In  an  incredibly  short  time  the  action  was  over,  the  enemy 
was  whipped,  the  railroad  was  cut,  the  public  buildings 
were  in  names,  and  the  gallant  Kautz  was  again  on  hig 
march,  with  some  sixty  prisoners  in  his  train. 

Turning  southward,  the  march  was  continued  to  the 
point  where  the  railroad  crosses  the  Notaway  River.  Here 
an  obstinately  contested  fight  took  place  in  which  the  gal- 


«78  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

lant  Lieutenant  Jackson,  of  Company  E,  fell  mortally  wound 
ed.  Here,  too,  fell  a  brave  private,  Samuel  de  Laite. 

In  this  engagement,  as  in  others,  the  bravery  of  the  men, 
and  the  efficiency  of  their  sixteen-shooters,  were  put  to  the 
proof. 

Major  Curtis  was  ordered  to  deploy  his  battalion  as 
skirmishers,  and  charge  a  much  larger  force  of  the  enerny, 
along  the  railroad,  near  the  bridge.  It  was  a  covered  bridge, 
and  the  rebels  soon  ran  to  it  for  shelter.  Our  brave  boys 
charged  boldly  after  them,  driving  them  through  and  into 
their  fortifications  on  the  other  side,  killing  some  and  taking 
several  prisoners,  with  small  loss  on  our  side.  Some  of  the 
prisoners  said  they  "thought  we  must  have  had  a  whole 
army,  from  the  way  the  bullets  flew." 

One  lieutenant  asked  if  we  "loaded  up  over  night  and 
then  fired  all  day."  He  said  "he  thought,  by  the  way  the 
bullets  came  into  the  bridge,  they  must  have  been  fired  by 
the  basketful." 

The  result  of  the  affair  was  that  the  bridge  was  burned, 
and  Kautz  was  again  on  the  march,  with  forty  rebel  prison 
ers  added  to  his  train. 

The  immediate  object  of  tho  expedition  having  been 
accomplished,  the  command  marched  to  City  Point.  Cross 
ing  the  Appomattox  on  the  10th,  they  encamped  for  a  day 
near  General  Butler's  head-quarters.  Twenty-four  hours, 
however,  had  not  elapsed,  when  the  division  moved  again 
on  another  raid,  which  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  hazard 
ous  and  effective  of  the  war.  During  the  time  that  General 
Butler's  forces  were  engaged  with  the  enemy,  between  Ber 
muda  Hundred  and  Richmond,  General  Kautz  adroitly 
slipped  through  the  lines,  and  again  boldly  dashed  into  the 
heart  of  Dixie. 

He  passed  rapidly  through  Chesterfield  County,  pausing 
at  the  court-house  only  long  enough  to  open  the  jail  and  lib 
erate  two  prisoners. 

As  we  dislike  to  be  laughed  at,  the  reader  may  pass  over 
the  following  explanatory  statement : — 

One  of  these  prisoners  was  a  woman,  who  refused  to 
leave  the  jail  after  the  doors  were  opened,  seeming  to  doubt 
the  authority  of  the  Yankees  to  discharge  her.  The  other 


FIRST  DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  179 

stated  that  he  had  been  imprisoned  on  account  of  his  Union 
sentiments,  and  seemed  very  grateful  to  his  deliverers.  A 
few  hours  later,  however,  he  disappeared  from  the  column, 
taking  with  him  the  horse  and  equipments  with  which  he 
had  been  kindly  furnished,  and  forgetting  to  give  notice  of 
his  intended  route.  The  loss  of  the  horse,  however,  was 
subsequently  made  up.  A  rebel,  living  not  far  from  our 
encampment,  had  a  valuable  animal,  which  he  was  very 
particular  to  declare  should  never  be  taken  from  him.  Ac 
cordingly  he  armed  himself,  and  took  up  his  lodgings  in  the 
stable.  But  he  must  needs  sleep,  and  the  boys  knew  it ;  and 
it  so  happened  that  he  opened  his  eyes  one  morning  on  an 
empty  stall.  Certain  Avords  were  spoken,  decidedly  more 
energetic  than  pious,  but  they  did  not  bring  the  horse  back. 

Leaving  the  court-house,  the  column  moved  on  to  Coal 
field  Station,  on  the  Danville  Railroad,  thirteen  miles  west 
from  Richmond.  On  the  arrival  of  the  troops,  at  about  half- 
past  ten  in  the  evening,  the  inhabitants  were  surprised  and 
alarmed  quite  out  of  their  propriety.  That  the  Yankees 
should  have  had  the  audacity  to  visit  that  section,  seemed 
actually  incomprehensible.  But  there  was  no  remedy. 

Instantly,  guards  were  posted  on  all  the  roads  leading  to 
and  from  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  and  the  work  of  the 
hour  was  hardly  begun  before  it  was  ended.  No  harm  was 
done  to  persons,  or  to  private  property,  but  the  railroad  was 
destroyed,  the  telegraph  came  down,  and  trains  of  cars, 
depot  buildings,  and  large  quantities  of  Government  stores, 
went  up  in  smoke. 

On  the  12th,  the  "history  of  this  affair"  repeated  itself 
at  Black's  and  White's  Station,  on  the  Southside  Railroad, 
thirty  miles  west  from  Petersburg,  and  forty  from  Coalfield 
Station.  The  railroad  was  torn  up,  and  the  telegraph  torn 
down,  while  the  depot  buildings,  together  with  large  quanti 
ties  of  corn,  and  flour,  and  meal,  and  tobacco,  and  salt, 
designed  for  the  rebel  army,  were  subjected  to  the  action  of 
tire,  and  resolved  into  their  original  elements. 

Wellville  Station,  five  miles  east,  on  the  same  railroad,  a 
few  hours  later,  shared  a  similar  fate.  The  column  now 
moved  in  the  direction  of  Bellefield,  on  the  Weldou  Rail 
road.  When  within  two  miles  of  that  place,  General  Kautz 


180          UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

learned  that  the  enemy  was  in  force  to  receive  him.  As  his 
object  was  not  so  much  to  fight  as  to  weaken  the  enemy,  by 
interrupting  his  communications  and  destroying  his  supplies, 
he  avoided  an  engagement,  turning  to  the  left  from  Belle- 
field,  and  marching,  via  Jarratt's  Station,  to  the  Notaway 
River. 

When  the  advance  reached  Freeman's  Bridge,  on  this 
river,  at  ten  o'clock  p.  M.,  it  was  discovered  that  the  whule 
command  was  in  a  trap.  One  span  of  the  bridge,  forty  feet 
in  length,  had  been  cut  out.  The  river,  for  a  considerable 
distance,  was  unfordable.  The  fords,  above  and  below, 
were  strongly  guarded,  and  the  enemy  was  gathering  in 
force  in  the  rear.  The  position  was  not  a  desirabl-e  one. 
The  river  must  be  crossed,  or  a  battle  must  be  fought  on  the 
enemy's  chosen  ground,  where  little  was  to  be  gained,  but 
where  every  thing  must  be  hazarded.  A  major  of  a  New 
York  regiment,  commanding  the  advance,  declared  that  the 
bridge  could  not  be  made  passable  before  the  afternoon  of 
the  next  day.  But  on  the  assurance  of  Captain  Howe,  that 
it  could  be  done  in  a  much  shorter  time,  Company  D  was 
ordered  up  and  told  what  was  wanted.  Working  parties 
were  instantly  organized.  In  a  short  time,  tall  pines  in  the 
neighboring  woods  had  fallen  before  the  axes  of  one  party, 
ar  d  stalwart  men,  by  means  of  the  drag-ropes  of  a  battery, 
had  drawn  them  out.  Another  party  had,  in  the  mean  time, 
crossed  the  river  on  a  little  float  they  had  fortunately  found, 
and  stood  on  the  remaining  part  of  the  bridge  on  the  other 
side.  The  ropes  were  thrown  to  them,  and  the  string-pieces 
were  drawn  across  the  chasm  and  placed  in  position.  To 
cover  them  with  rails  was  but  the  work  of  a  few  moments, 
and  in  less  than  three  hours  from  the  time  the  Maine  boys 
began  the  work  it  was  completed,  and  the  column  passed 
over  in  safetjr. 

The  division  reached  City  Point  on  the  19th.  During  the 
last  nine  days  it  marched,  on  an  average,  twenty  hours  out 
of  the  twenty -four,  leaving  only  four  hours  for  rest.  It  wilJ 
hardly  be  believed,  that  in  some  instances  hunger  compelled 
the  men  to  eat  raw  corn  like  their  horses,  but  such  was  the 
fact. 

On  this  raid  they  cut  the  Richmond  and  Danville  and 


FIRST   DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  181 

Southside  Railroad  in  six  different  places,  and  inflicted  an 
amount  of  damage  upon  the  enemy's  communications  and 
army  stores  which  told  severely  upon  them  afterward. 

On  their  arrival  at  City  Point,  both  men  and  horses  were 
much  exhausted.  On  the  20th  the  command  crossed  again  to 
Bermuda  Hundred,  and  went  into  camp  about  a  mile  from 
the  river. 

On  the  7th  of  April  we  embarked  on  board  a  fine  steamer, 
with  a  pleasant  company,  for  Fortress  Monroe,  where  we 
arrived  at  an  early  hour  next  morning.  For  many  years 
Fortress  Monroe  had  been  to  us  a  familiar  name,  but  we 
were  not  long  in  discovering  that  the  descriptions  of  it  and 
its  surroundings  as  they  were,  conveyed  no  correct  idea  of 
them  as  they  are. 

Then,  there  was  little  to  be  seen  save  the  formidable  walls 
of  the  old  fort,  rising  from  the  sand  and  rocks,  at  the  dis 
tance  of  a  few  rods  from  the  water' s  edge,  and  the  solitary 
sentry,  slowly  pacing  the  lofty  parapet ;  while  scarcely  a 
human  voice  broke  the  tomb-like  silence  of  the  place. 

Now,  a  busy  scene  was  presented.  Numerous  newly  con 
structed  piers  had  been  pushed  out  into  the  sparkling  waters 
of  the  bay,  and  the  grounds  outside  the  walls  were  occupied 
with  a  curious  and  compact  group  of  buildings  of  rude  archi 
tecture,  clearly  designed  for  temporary  use.  The  scene  on 
the  wharf  was  one  of  unusual  animation  and  of  picturesque 
effect.  Looking  down  from  the  hurricane  deck,  we  beheld  a 
sea  of  faces,  and  could  not  well  preserve  our  gravity  as  we 
marked  the  curious  variety  it  presented. 

There  was  the  brown-visaged  man  in  dusky  gray,  the 
worse  for  wear,  the  seedy  representative  of  an  humbled  aris 
tocracy,  and  there  was  the  lean,  lank,  sallow,  dirty,  hang 
dog  specimen  of  the  "  poor  trash"  of  the  South.  There  were 
heads  adorned  with  handkerchiefs  of  many  brilliant  colors, 
and  heads  that  had  no  covering  but  wool.  There  were  pre 
posterous  bonnets  and  stove-pipe  hats,  with  a  "  smart  sprink 
ling1'  of  military  and  naval  headgear.  There  were  rich  silk 
dresses  and  tow  frocks.  There  was  crinoline  of  enormous 
proportions,  and  there  were  flat  feet  peering  from  beneath  it, 
perfectly  innocent  of  either  shoes  or  stockings 

It  was  a  motley  group — big  and  little,  old  and  young, 


182  CJNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE 

civil  and  military.  While  all  were  busy  and  animated,  it 
was  easy  to  see  that  the  whites  of  southern  blood  felt  least  at 
home,  while  the  negroes  were  in  their  element.  They  talked 
the  most,  made  the  best  show  of  white  teeth,  and,  of  all  we 
could  see,  seemed  decidedly  the  most  comfortable. 

There  is  truth  in  the  old  adage,  that  "it  is  an  ill  wind 
that  blows  nobody  any  good."  While  the  "red  tape"  busi 
ness  was  drawing  its  "  slow  length  along,"  some  of  us  took 
a  stroll  out  to  Hampton,  or  rather  to  the  site  of  that  ancient 
and  once  pleasant  village. 

It  was  but  a  short  walk,  leading,  for  the  most  part, 
through  a  collection  of  Government  storehouses,  and  huts 
and  tents  so  disorderly  in  their  arrangements  as  to  suggest 
the  idea  of  reading  the  riot  act  without  delay.  On  the  way 
we  noticed  one  or  two  handsome  places,  among  them  the 
residence  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  Segar,  surrounded  by  venerable 
trees,  and  commanding  as  charming  a  scene  as  one  could 
desire,  in  the  beautiful  expanse  of  Hampton  Roads,  dotted 
with  white  sails  and  stirred  by  innumerable  paddle-wheels. 
We  next  came  to  the  McClellan  Hospital,  with  its  outlying 
wards  and  its  broad  and  beautiful  gardens. 

Hampton  was  reached  by  crossing  a  bridge  about  four 
hundred  paces  long.     Before  the  rebellion  it  was  a  jewel  of 
a  village,  embosomed  in  noble  trees,  which  threw  their  wel 
come  shade  over  the  streets  and  ample  grounds  which  fronted 
the  tasteful  residences. 

Hampton  was  settled  ten  years  after  Jamestown,  and 
was,  at  the  time  of  its  destruction,  the  oldest  Anglo-Saxon 
settlement  then  inhabited  in  the  United  States.  Now  it  is  a 
scene  of  utter  desolation,  inhabited  almost  exclusively  by 
blacks.  With  the  exception  of  an  occasional  grocery  store, 
and  a  very  few  dwellings  of  a  more  respectable  appearance, 
the  residences  were  of  the  rudest  description,  nearly  all  of 
one  room,  and  situated  as  if  they  had  been  flung  out  of  a 
great  architectural  leather  apron. 

The  "Old  Church,"  cruciform  in  shape,  and  colonial  in 
date,  presented  a  singularly  picturesque  appearance,  and 
was  almost  the  only  object  about  the  town  which  indicated 
its  former  condition.  The  tower,  from  which  a  noble  old 
bell  once  pealed  out  its  mellow  tones  had  fallen  into  a  heap 


FIRST    DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  183 

i>f  rubbish  at  the  western  end  of  the  cross,  while  massive 
walls  rose  aloft  in  gloomy  grandeur.  A  wilderness  of  young 
aspens  and  willows,  with  here  and  there  a  dense  growth  of 
hardy  roses,  disputed  the  possession  of  some  once  cherished 
graves,  with  a  savage  intrusion  of  undergrowth.  Fragments 
of  tombs,  some  with  armorial  blazonry,  were  scattered  about, 
and  the  whole  place  bore  sad  evidence  of  the  terrible  scourge 
of  war.  Nor  could  we  resist  the  conviction  that  the  people 
who  have  thus  felt  it  will  be  slow  to  invoke  it  again. 

f  Failing  of  the  main  object  of  our  expedition,  partly,  per 
haps,  from  our  want  of  acquaintance  with  the  occult  science 
of  "red  tape,"  we  returned  to  Washington,  and  were  there 
mustered  into  service,  under  a  special  order  of  the  War  De 
partment. 

On  the  12th  of  May  these  six  companies,  still  unmounted, 
and  having  drilled  only  on  foot,  were  ordered  to  Fortress 
Monroe.  Leaving  Washington  the  next  afternoon  on  board 
of  transports,  after  touching  at  Fort  Monroe,  we  proceeded 
to  Norfolk,  and,  reporting  to  General  Shepley,  were  ordered 
to  Portsmouth,  where  we  disembarked  and  went  into  camp 
in  the  rear  of  the  town. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d  we  re-embarked  on  board  a 
transport  for  James  River.  Dropping  anchor  about  sunset, 
opposite  Fort  Powhattan,  we  passed  the  night  quietly  under 
the  protection  of  the  guns  of  the  Atlanta.  This  craft  will  be 
remembered  as  the  strange  sea-monster  designed  by  the  reb 
els  to  destroy  the  blockading  fleet  off  Charleston  harbor,  but, 
by  a  higher  power,  to  do  good  service  for  the  Government. 
One  of  the  boys  thought  it  "looked  like  the  devil."  An 
other  could  see  no  such  resemblance,  but  said  it  "looked 
like  a  big  sea  turtle  on  a  raft,  with  his  '  back  up.' ' 

A  short  run  of  about  a  dozen  miles,  the  next  morning, 
took  us  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  where  we  disembarked,  and 
went  into  camp  about  a  mile  from  the  landing,  beside  the 
other  six  companies.  The  regiment  was  now  together  for 
I  he  first  time. 

At  one  o'clock  A.  M.  of  the  24th,  one  battalion  was  ordered 
to  City  Point,  to  take  the  place  of  a  detachment  which  had 
been  sent  to  Fort  Powhattan.  That  fort,  manned  by  colored 
troops,  had  been  attacked  bv  a  considerable  force  under  Fita 


184  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

Hugh  Lee.  They  were,  however,  gallanJy  repulsed,  aud. 
before  the  arrival  of  the  reinforcements,  had  retreated,  and 
the  battalion  returned. 

General  Butler,  commanding  the  army  of  the  James,  con 
sisting  of  the  tenth  and  eighteenth  army  corps,  had  taken 
possession  of  City  Point  and  Bermuda  Hundred  on  the  5th 
instant,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  the  enemy. 

His  fortifications  extended  from  the  Point  of  Rocks,  on 
the  Appomattox,  northwardly  to  near  Dutch  Gap,  on  the 
James  River,  a  distance  of  about  five  miles. 

General  Grant  was  fighting  his  way  to  the  south  side  of 
the  James.  The  bloody  battles  of  the  Wilderness  and  of 
Spottsylvania  Court-House  had  been  fought,  and  an  order 
was  received  by  General  Butler,  for  the  eighteenth  corps  to 
proceed  to  the  White  House,  to  co-operate  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac. 

On  the  25th  this  corps  left,  and  the  cavalry,  acting  as 
infantry,  was  ordered  to  the  front  to  take  their  places  in  the 
intrenchments.  The  position  of  this  regiment  was  abom  mid 
way  of  the  line,  between  the  two  rivers,  in  an  open  field  arid 
on  level  ground.  The  tents  were  pitched  a  few  rods  in  the 
rear  of  the  breastworks,  and  with  no  protection  fruin  the 
shot  and  shell  of  the  enemy. 

The  enemy  held  a  formidable  line  of  works  in  our  front, 
varying  in  distance  from  half  a  mile  to  two  miles.  Directly 
in  front  of  our  camp,  at  the  distance  of  about  forty  lods  from 
our  main  line  of  works,  a  thick  wood  prevented  us  from  see 
ing  the  enemy's  position.  A  little  to  our  right,  the  country 
was  open,  and  there,  on  an  eminence  some  eighty  rods  in 
advance  of  our  breastworks,  we  had  a  small  redoubt,  known 
as  Fort  Pride,  defended  by  a  section  of  a  battery,  and  com 
manded  by  Captain  Pride,  an  artillery  oflN,er,  from  whom  it 
took  its  name. 

Company  M,  Captain  Sargent  commanding,  was  stationed 
in  this  fort  as  an  artillery  support.  A  portion  of  the  regi 
ment  was  constantly  on  picket,  in  front  of  our  main  line  of 
works.  We  were  to  hold  this  line.  It  was  here  that  the  six 
companies  referred  to  as  having  recently  reached  the  front, 
loaded  their  pieces  for  action  for  the  first  time :  and  it  was 


FIRST   DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  185 

tiere  that  the  pluck  of  the  men  and  the  efficiency  of  their 
guns  were  first  put  to  the  test. 

The  enemy  shelled  us  nearly  every  day  from  behind  his 
breastworks,  and  though  we  received  no  damage,  still  a 
vivid  recollection  is  retained  of  the  shelling.  The  guns  of 
the  enemy,  on  a  part  of  his  line,  were  trained  on  the  redoubt, 
and  when  the  shells  failed,  as  they  often  did,  tn  explode  at 
the  point  intended,  they  came  directly  into  our  cam]),  the 
Whitworth  whistling  with  a  sound  like  that  produced  by 
the  wing  of  a  pigeon  swiftly  cutting  the  air — others  scream 
ing  over  our  heads  or  tearing  up  the  ground.  In  one  in 
stance,  the  fusee  of  a  shell  was  Mown  out  and  struck  a 
colored  "boy  in  the  face,  but  inflicted  no  serious  injury. 
Some  of  the  boys  proposed  to  wash  his  face,  to  see  if  the 
fright  had  not  bleached  him.  The  humor  of  these  people  is 
"irrepressible"  When  the  fusee  whisked  across  this  fel 
low's  face,  he  opened  his  eyes  wTide,  and  seeing  a  friend, 
exclaimed,  "By  golly,  Bill,  did  you  see  dat  ar  snipe?" 

"Yah,  yah,  yah,"  exclaimed  the  other,  "you  nigger.  I 
reckon  you  wouldn't  like  to  have  dat  ar  snipe  pick  you." 

At  three  o'clock  A.  M.  of  the  28th,  the  rebels  opened  on 
us  with  artillery,  all  along  the  line,  and  the  whole  force  was 
ordered  to  "fall  in."  It  was  supposed  they  were  about  to 
assault  our  works.  Drawn  up  for  the  first  time  in  close  line 
of  battle,  a  few  paces  from  the  breastworks,  in  anticipation 
of  a  bloody  conflict,  the  whole  bearing  of  the  men  was  such 
as  to  make  their  gallant  commander  proud  of  them.  When 
all  was  ready,  as  the  intrepid  Colonel  Conger  mounted  on 
old  "Barney,"  as  his  war-horse  was  called,  the  inevitable 
pipe  in  mouth,  puffing  as  quietly  as  if  sitting  at  his  tent-door, 
the  chaplain  passed  along  in  front  of  the  line  with  words  of 
cheer  to  the  men.  As  he  told  them  what  was  expected  of 
them,  and  that  he  trusted  they  would  give  a  good  account 
of  themselves  in  the  coming  conflict,  they  answered  with  the 
utmost  enthusiasm,  "We  will,  Chaplain,  we  will;  that  is 
what  we  came  here  for.  We  will  do  it."  The  expected  as 
sault,  however,  was  not  made,  and  three  hours  later  they 
returned  to  their  quarters. 

On  the  picket  line  the  time  did  not  entirely  pass  without 
enlivening  incidents.  An  officer,  one  night,  discerned  a  stis- 


186  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

picious  looking  object  moving  stealthily  toward  our  fortifi 
cations  Making  a  detour,  he  got  into  its  rear  unperceived, 
and  soon  discovered  that  it  was  a  man,  reconnoitering  our 
works.  By  cautious  movements,  now  stepping  behind  this 
tree,  and  now  crouching  behind  that  stump,  still  when  the 
game  was  still,  and  moving  quickly  when  it  moved,  he  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  sufficiently  near,  when,  taking  deliberate 
aim,  he  roared  out,  u  Lay  down."  Disarmed  and  brought 
in,  the  captive  proved  to  be  a  lieutenant  in  the  rebel  service. 

On  the  30th,  the  thunder  of  artillery  all  day  gave  us  a 
welcome  intimation  that  General  Grant  was  coming.  Beyond 
incidents  like  these,  nothing  occurred  worthy  of  note  till  the 
4th  of  June. 

The  part  of  the  picket  line  which  extended  along  in  front 
of  our  camp,  from  left  to  right,  about  one  mile,  was  held  by 
our  regiment.  On  our  right,  the  line  extending  on  in  front 
of  Fort  Pride,  and  some  distance  beyond,  was  manned  by 
another  regiment.  Before  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the 
4th,  the  enemy  commenced  a  furious  shelling,  which  was 
continued  till  sunrise.  Meantime  he  had  thrown  out  a  strong 
line  of  skirmishers  to  attack  our  pickets  on  the  left,  for  the 
purpose,  doubtless,  of  diverting  attention  from  the  point  at 
which  he  intended  to  strike.  The  attack  was  sudden  and 
vigorous,  but  the  reserve  rallying  promptly,  with  their  supe 
rior  arms,  the  enemy  was  repulsed.  The  skirmishing  con 
tinued,  however,  till  about  nine  o'clock,  when  a  regiment  of 
South  Carolina  troops  left  their  intrenchments,  further  to  our 
right,  and  advanced  on  Fort  Pride  with  a  yell  peculiarly 
their  own.  The  pickets  of  the  regiment  referred  to  left  their 
posts  and  came  in. 

Captain  Sargent  at  once  sent  out  twenty-one  men,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Blethen.  This  small  party,  taking 
advantage  of  the  ground,  got  a  position  from  which,  as  the 
enemy  advanced  on  the  fort,  they  could  give  him  an  enfilad 
ing  fire.  The  first  volley  told  with  terrible  effect ;  another 
equally  destructive  instantly  followed.  Another,  another, 
and  another,  tore  through  their  thinned  and  thinning  ranks. 
It  seemed  as  if  a  whole  brigade  was  on  their  flank.  In  the 
mean  time  our  artillery  opened  on  them  with  grape  and  can 
ister.  A  moment  more  and  the  survivors  were  seeking  tti* 


,  FIRST  DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  187 

shelter  of  their  works,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  on 
the  field.  Among  the  dead  was  the  colonel  of  the  regiment. 
A  detachment  of  our  men  was  sent  out  to  man  the  picket 
line.  Lieutenant  Blethen  returned,  bringing  in  thirteen  pris 
oners,  among  whom  was  one  commissioned  officer.  It  is  a 
singular  fact,  that  we  had  not  a  man  harmed. 

Two  hours  after  the  light,  the  body  of  the  rebel  colonel 
wno  fell  was  sent,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  across  the  enemy's 
lines,  together  with  his  gold  watch,  a  diamond  ring,  and 
various  other  articles  of  value  found  upon  his  person. 

It  is  a  noteworthy  fact,  that  the  Sabbath  was  sometimes 
*k  remembered"  in  the  army,  even  in  the  midst  of  a  vigorous 
campaign.  When  the  troops  were  on  a  march,  it  was  differ 
ent.  But,  during  the  ten  months  the  two  great  armies  con 
fronted  each  other  before  Richmond,  no  instance  is  remem 
bered  in  which  the  religious  services  of  the  Sabbath  were 
interrupted  by  the  enemy.  As  by  common  consent,  aggres 
sive  movements  on  both  sides,  with  rare  exceptions,  were 
suspended  on  that  day. 

Usually  on  the  Sabbath,  "all  was  quiet  along  the  lines." 
Especially  so  were  the  first  Sabbaths  we  passed  at  Bermuda 
Hundred  front.  At  the  suggestion  of  Colonel  Mix,  of  the 
Third  New  York  Cavalry,  that  regiment  and  the  First  Dis 
trict  of  Columbia  Cavalry  attended  a  united  service,  while 
stationed  at  that  point,  the  chaplains  of  the  two  regiments 
officiating  alternately. 

At  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  the  six  mount 
ed  companies  of  the  First  District  of  Columbia  Cavalry 
moved  with  the  division  under  General  Kautz,  as  it  after 
ward  appeared,  to  capture  Petersburg.  The  cavalry  was 
to  attack  the  city  on  the  south,  while  the  tenth  corps  of 
infantry,  under  General  Gilmore,  was  to  attack  on  the  north 
side.  The  cavalry  moved  promptly.  All  the  troops  did 
their  duty  well.  No  further  account  of  the  matter,  however, 
can  here  be  given  than  is  necessary  to  show  the  part  borne 
by  this  regiment.  As  the  column,  marching  by  the  Jerusa 
lem  turnpike,  approached  the  enemy's  defenses,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Conger,  commanding,  ordered  Major  Curtis  to  dis 
mount  his  battalion  and  charge  the  enemy's  works.  Every 
fourth  man  was  left  in  charge  of  the  horses  The  balance  of 


188  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

the  battalion  moved  steadily  forward,  firing  rapidly  as  they 
advanced,  nor  did  they  pause  at  all  till  they  were  inside  the 
rebel  works,  securing  prisoners  and  destroying  such  camp 
equipage  as  they  could  not  remove. 

It  was  then  discovered  that  they  had  done  this  against 
three  times  their  own  number,  fighting  behind  breastworks. 
With  the  common  arm,  this  would  hardly  have  been  possi 
ble.  Some  of  the  prisoners  said  :  ' '  Your  rapid  firing  con 
fused  our  men;  they  thought  the  devil  helped  you,  and  it 
was  of  no  use  to  fight."  During  the  action,  Captain  Griffin, 
of  Company  C,  with  a  small  detachment  from  his  own  and 
another  company,  charged  and  took  a  twelve-pound  brass 
howitzer,  against  large  odds  of  good  fighting  men.  They 
could  not  stand  the  ready-loaded  and  instant- firing  arms 
which  our  men  used  against  them. 

After  the  defenses  had  been  carried,  it  was  ascertained 
that  the  infantry  had  returned  to  Bermuda  Hundred  without 
striking  a  blow,  arid  as  the  enemy  was  rapidly  bringing  up 
reinforcements  from  Richmond  and  elsewhere,  General  Kautz 
was  compelled  to  retire,  which  he  did  without  molestation. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  action,  Lieutenant  Maguire  received 
a  painful  wound  in  the  leg.  This  was  our  only  casualty. 
While  this  affair  was  in  progress,  a  detachment  from  that 
portion  of  the  regiment  which  remained  behind  reconnoitered 
the  enemy's  works  in  our  front,  found  them  deserted,  and 
demolished  them. 

On  the  13th  we  were  relieved  from  duty  in  the  in- 
trenchments,  by  a  regiment  of  one  hundred  days  men  from 
Ohio. 

The  next  day  the  balance  of  the  regiment  was  mounted, 
and  moved  at  once  with  the  cavalry  division,  in  concert  with 
the  eighteenth  corps  of  infantry,  for  a  second  demonstration 
on  Petersburg. 

The  disadvantage  under  which  they  labored  will  be 
appreciated,  when  it  is  stated  that  a  portion  of  the  District 
of  Columbia  men  took  the  saddle  that  day  for  the  first  time 
in  their  lives.  And  yet  the  regiment  was  highly  compli 
mented  for  its  gallantry  in  the  engagement,  which  resulted 
in  forcing  the  enemy  back  to  his  inner  line  of  intrench 
ments. 


FIRST   DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  189 

Lieutenant  Parkman,  of  Company  D,  a  brave  and  accom 
plished  officer,  and  an  excellent  man,  was  killed. 

While  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  the 
kindly  ministrations  of  the  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commis 
sions  called  forth  grateful  acknowledgments  from  many  a 
suffering  soldier. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FIRST     DISTRICT     CAVALRY. 


Leaving  Camp  agarin — "Wilson's  Raid" — Battles — The  Escape  of  Kaute — The  Kfld 
of  Regimental  Service. 

HITHERTO  one-lialf  the  regiment  had  served  as  infantry. 
N~ow,  mounted  and  released  from  duty  in  the  intrenchments, 
they  were  so  far  prepared  to  take  the  field  as  cavalry.  Pro 
bably,  however,  no  other  regiment  in  the  service  took  the 
field  in  a  condition  so  unfavorable  to  success. 

Now  if  (as  we  shall  hereafter  see),  notwithstanding  all  the 
adverse  influences,  they  were  distinguished  for  their  bravery 
and  efficiency  on  every  field  in  which  they  fought,  the  fact 
will  prove  the  sterling  qualities  of  the  men.  • 

On  the  19th,  we  broke  camp  near  the  breastworks  at 
Bermuda  Hundred  front,  and  moved  north  about  five  miles, 
to  a  point  near  the  James,  about  two  miles  below  Jones's 
Landing. 

At  four  o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  20th,  an  order  was  received 
to  be  ready  to  march  at  an  hour's  notice.  At  nine  o'clock 
our  horse  equipments  arrived  from  Washington.  The  differ 
ent  parts  of  the  saddle  were  in  different  boxes,  and  so  unac 
quainted  were  the  men  with  horse  gear,  that  many  of  them 
were  unable  to  adjust  the  various  parts  without  assistance. 
Nor  was  this  strange.  Before  their  enlistment  they  had  no 
occasion  to  learn,  and  subsequently,  no  opportunity,  and 
yet,  three  hours  later,  they  started  on  the  celebrated  ''Wil 
son's  Raid." 

At  one  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  of  June,  the 
regiment  moved  with  the  third  division  of  cavalry,  under 
General  Kautz,  and  joined  another  division  from  the  Army 
if  the  Potomac.  The  whole  force  numbered  about  eight 


F1KST   DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  j  ;jj 

thousand  men,  with  sixteen  pieces  of  artillery,  and  was  com 
manded  by  General  Wilson. 

The  object  of  the  movement,  like  that  of  similar  ones 
which  had  preceded  it,  was  not  to  fight,  but  to  weaken  the 
enemy  by  cutting  his  communications,  and  by  destroying 
army  stores  and  other  public  property. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  now  intrenched  on  the 
south  side  of  Richmond.  All  supplies  for  the  rebel  capital 
must  be  drawn  from  the  South  and  West.  The  question  of 
its  reduction  was  only  a  question  of  time,  while  every  inter 
rnption  of  its  communications,  and  every  diminution  of  its 
supplies,  would  hasten  the  time. 

On  the  night  of  the  21st,  the  command  bivouacked  at 
Bl  an  ford,  on  the  Suffolk  Railroad,  four  miles  south  of 
Petersburg.  Of  the  use  of  this  road  the  enemy  had  already 
been  deprived.  Passing  on  the  22d  to  Prince  George's 
Court-house,  thence  marching  in  a  southerly  direction,  they 
struck  the  Weldon  Railroad  at  Reams1  s  Station,  twelve  miles 
from  Petersburg.  The  place  was  guarded  by  a  small  body 
'of  militia.  A  portion  of  them  were  captured  and  the 
remainder  dispersed. 

Here  the  sad  but  necessary  work  of  destruction  began. 
All  the  buildings  at  the  station,  together  with  a  locomotive, 
and  a  train  of  five  or  six  cars,  were  consigned  to  the  flames. 
•  After  tearing  up  the  road  for  a  considerable  distance,  the 
command  marched  to  Ford's  Station,  on  the  South  Side 
Railroad,  eighteen  miles  southwest  from  Petersburg.  Here 
the  work  of  destruction  was  resumed.  The  public  build 
ings,  together  with  three  locomotives  and  fifteen  cars,  shared 
the  fate  of  those  at  Reams' s  Station. 

On  the  23d,  they  advanced  to  Black's  and  White's,  iif 
teen  miles  southwest,  on  the  same  road,  destroying  the  three 
intervening  stations,  and  tearing  up  the  road  along  their  line 
of  march. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  a  march  of  eight  miles  led 
them  to  Notaway  Court-house,'  where  they  destroyed  a  rail 
road  station,  together  with  a  large  storehouse,  filled  with 
cotton. 

Resuming  the  line  of  march,  they  advanced  to  Keysville, 
on  the  Richmond  and  Danville  Railroad,  leaving  behind 


192  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

them  a  track  of  smouldering  ruins,  as  far  as  the  public 
property  of  the  enemy  furnished  combustible  matter.  Nor 
is  it  to  be  denied  that,  within  certain  limits,  a  good  deal  of 
foraging  was  done. 

In  a  healthy  subject,  free  exercise  in  the  open  air,  espe 
cially  on  horseback,  tends  to  give  an  appetite,  whose 
cravings  nothing  can  appease  but  food.  This  was  the 
experience  of  our  boys.  And  if  their  haversacks  were 
sometimes  empty,  and  they  were  fain  to  gnaw  the  raw  corn, 
"  which  the  horses  did  eat,"  their  appetites  were  all  the 
more  clamorous  when  they  came  within  reach  of  food.  At 
such  times,  bread,  and  meat,  and  butter,  and  milk,  arid  eggs, 
and  cream,  in  a  word,  whatever  the  smoke-house,  or  the 
spring-house,  or  the  field,  or  garden,  or  stall,  or  pasture  of  a 
rebel  contained,  which  was  capable  of  being  readily  con 
verted  into  good  food,  was  remorselessly  appropriated, 
without  waiting  for  either  commissary  or  quartermaster 
process.  These  acts  of  the  boys  were  never  denied  ;  and 
yet,  for  the  life  of  us,  we  could  never  discover  any  signs  of 
penitence  on  account  of  them.  It  should  be  stated,  how 
ever,  that  the  law  of  magnanimity  was  not  entirely  ignored. 

The  boys  were  one  day  in  want  of  meat,  and,  as  they  had 
no  other  means  of  getting  it,  they  "confiscated"  the  con 
tents  of  a  smoke-house  on  the  plantation  of  a  wealthy  rebel. 
While  the  distribution  was  going  on,  the  victim  demanded, 
in  no  very  pleasant  tones,  whether  he  was  to  have  none  for 
himself. 

"Certainly,"  a  quiet  Yankee  replied.  "Now  is  your 
time.  Pitch  in,  pitch  in,  and  take  your  share,  while  it  is 
going!" 

After  passing  Drake's  Depot,  eight  miles  further  south, 
and  paying  it  the  same  compliments  they  had  paid  to  others, 
they  approached  Roanoke  Bridge,  which  crosses  the  Staun- 
ton  River,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Roanoke,  As  this  was 
a  point  of  great  importance  to  the  enemy,  it  was  fortified  and 
strongly  guarded.  On  this 'side  of  the  river,  at  the  distance 
of  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  running  parallel  with  it, 
was  a  range  of  hills.  Between  the  hills  and  the  river,  the 
ground  was  open  and  level.  At  the  left  of  the  railroad  was 
a  broad  field  of  wheat,  while  on  the  right  a  luxuriant  growth 


FIRST   DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  193 

of  grass  and  weeds,  rising  nearly  to  the  height  of  a  man's 
shoulders,  covered  the  ground.  The  bluff  on  the  opposite 
tf'de  of  the  river  was  lined  with  earthworks,  and  bristled 
with  cannon,  both  above  and  below  the  bridge,  while  a 
strong  line  of  the  enemy's  skirmishers  had  been  thrown 
across  the  bridge,  and  deployed  along  the  shore. 

Wilson's  object  was  to  burn  the  bridge,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Conger,  of  the  First  District  of  Columbia  Cavalry, 
was  detailed  to  do  it.  The  regiment  was  composed  of  new 
''recruits,  with  little  experience,  and  had  received  less  in 
struction  than  any  other  regiment  in  the  command.  The 
undertaking  was  a  perilous  one.  Its  wisdom  the  reader  will 
be  likely  to  question.  And  yet,  when  the  final  order  was 
given  to  charge  across  the  level  ground,  in  the  face  of  the 
rebel  batteries,  the  gallant  First  District  of  Columbia  moved 
forward  in  splendid  stylj,  dismounted  (except  the  intrepid 
Conger,  who,  being  lame  from  previous  wounds,  was  com 
pelled  to  ride).  The  advance  squadron,  commanded  by 
Captain  Benson,  had  not  advanced  far,  when,  from  the  line 
of  the  enemy' s  works  in  front,  a  murderous  storm  of  grape 
and  canister  was  hurled  into  their  ranks  with  terrible  effect. 
Officers  and  men  went  down  in  large  numbers.  Still,  with 
out  the  least  protection,  in  the  face  of  that  withering  fire, 
arid  at  too  great  a  distance  from  the  enemy  to  effect  much  by 
their  own,  those  brave  men  pressed  on  till  near  the  bridge. 
Efforts  were  made  to  burn  it,  but  they  were  unsuccessful. 
The  regiment  did  but  little  actual  fighting  here,  for  the 
simple  reason  that  they  could  not  get  at  the  enemy,  but  the 
cannonading  was  rapid  and  heavy.  The  hills  presented  a 
line  of  fire  and  smoke,  and  the  earth  trembled  with  the 
terrific  concussions.  Shells  screamed  across  the  horizon, 
bursting  into  deadly  iron  hail — the  grim  forms  of  smoke- 
masked  men,  the  gleam  of  burnished  guns  in  the  wheat 
field,  where  the  men  were  not  engaged,  and  the  flashing  of 
sabers  where  they  were,  with  horsemen  in  the  distance, 
sweeping  to  and  fro,  formed  a  scene  of  exciting  grandeur 
such  as  few  of  our  men  had  ever  witnessed  before. 

When  at  length  it  was  discovered  that  the  object  could 
not  be  accomplished  but  at  too  great  a  sacrifice  of  life,  the 
advance  was  ordered  back,  and,  as  nothing  else  was  to  be 


194  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

done  in  this  direction,  the  return  march  was  commenced. 
The  enemy  followed  all  day,  but  made  no  attack.  After  a 
march  of  thirty-two  miles  directly  east,  through  Greens- 
borough,  the  column  halted  for  the  night  near  Oak  Grove. 

A  march  of  thirty-eight  miles  brought  them  to  the  Iron 
Bridge  across  Stony  Creek,  at  about  ten  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  28th.  Here  a  heavy  force  of  cavalry  and 
artillery  was  found  in  position  to  dispute  the  crossing.  The 
cavalry  consisted  of  Hampton's  command,  together  with  that 
of  Fitz  Hugh  Lee. 

A  severe  engagement  took  place,  in  which  this  regiment 
lost  about  eighty  men  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 
The  result  was  indecisive.  The  enemy  was  pressed  back, 
while  our  column  turned  to  the  left  and  crossed  the  creek  at 
a  point  above. 

General  Kautz's  division  had  the  advance,  this  regiment 
moving  at  the  head  of  the  column,  and  the  Eleventh  Penn 
sylvania  next. 

On  approaching  Reams' s  Station,  which  had  been  sup 
posed  to  be  in  our  possession,  General  Kautz  found  himself 
confronted  by  the  enemy,  both  infantry  and  artillery. 
Mahone's  whole  division,  and  one  brigade  from  another 
division,  had  been  sent  out  to  intercept  Wilson's  command, 
which  was  now  outnumbered  two  to  one.*  The  enemy  was 
drawn  up  in  strong  line  of  battle,  extending  from  the  Nota- 
way  River,  on  our  right,  to  a  point  far  out  on  our  left.  This 
regiment  and  the  Eleventh  Pennsylvania  charged  directly 
through.  General  Wilson,  however,  instead  of  following 
on,  fell  back,  abandoned  his  artillery,  ivagons,  and  ambu 
lances,  and,  by  making  a  wide  detour,  avoided  the  enemy, 
and  abandoned  these  two  regiments  to  their  fate. 

Kautz  had  marched  but  a  short  distance,  when  he  found 
himself  in  a  triangle,  two  sides  of  which,  including  his  rear 
and  left  front,  were  held  by  the  enen^  in  overwhelming 
numbers.  Extending  along  his  right  front  was  the  railroad, 
running  through  a  cut  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  in  depth. 

*  Stung  to  madness  by  the  previous  daring  and  destructive  raids  of  Kautz,  Lee 
is  said  to  have  declared  that  he  would  crush  these  raiders,  if  it  cost  him  his  ^rhole 
voiy. 


FIRST    DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  195 

Beyond  it,  and  running  nearly  parallel  with  it,  was  a  muddy 
stream  of  considerable  depth,  and  beyond  that,  an  extensive 
swamp,  supposed  to  be  impassable. 

The  enemy  now  thought  himself  sure  of  his  prey.  Under 
the  circumstances,  almost  any  other  man  would  have  sur 
rendered.  Not  so  the  indomitable  Kautz. 

It  was  a  wild  and  exciting  scene  to  see  those  mounted 
men  slide  down  that  steep  embankment  to  the  railroad  track, 
and  scramble  up  the  opposite  bank,  and  dash  down  the  next 
declivity  into  the  stream,  and  wallow  through  mire  and 
water,  the  horses  in  some  instances  rolling  over,  and  the 
men  going  under,  amid  the  thunder  of  artillery,  and  with 
solid  shot  plunging,  and  shells  exploding,  and  grape  and 
canister  raining,  and  musket  balls  whistling  around  them, 
till  they  reached  the  opposite  shore,  and  disappeared  in  the 
swamp. 

Following  their  indefatigable  commander,  they  pressed 
their  way  through,  and  reached  their  old  camp  at  Jones's 
Landing,  the  next  day.* 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Conger,  Major  Curtis,  and  Captain 
Sanford  were  severely  Avounded.  Captains  Benson  and 
Chase,  who  had  been  wounded  at  Roanoke  Bridge,  fell 
into  the  enemy's  hands  as  prisoners,  when  the  ambulances 
were  abandoned  at  Stony  Creek. 

The  damage  to  the  enemy  by  this  raid  was  immense. 
Besides  the  destruction  of  buildings,  of  cotton,  of  commis 
sary  stores,  and  rolling  stock,  Richmond  and  Petersburg  were 
cut  off  from  all  railroad  communication  for  several  weeks. 

The  whole  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  now  in  front  of 
Petersburg,  and  was  intrenching  in  the  direction  of  the 
South  Side  Railroad. 

One  of  our  companies  was  on  duty  in  Port  Pride.  With 
this  exception,  the  history  of  the  regiment,  for  the  next  few 
weeks,  is  little  else  than  a  history  of  alternate  rest  and  drill. 
Once  or  twice  it  was  ordered  out  on  reconnoissance,  and 
once  on  foot  to  repel  an  expected  assault,  which,  however, 
was  not  made. 

*  This  s^vamp  had  been  made  passabla  by  a  drouth  of  almost  unprecedented 


196  UNITED  STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

On  the  27th,  orders  were  received  to  be  ready  to  move 
at  six  o'clock,  P.  M.,  with  three  days'  rations.  The  whole 
cavalry  force,  together  with  the  second  corps  of  infantry, 
had  been  ordered  to  the  north  side  of  the  James.  The  object 
was  to  draw  the  enemy  from  Petersburg,  where  an  assault 
was  to  be  made  in  connection  with  the  uine  explosion. 
The  head  of  Sheridan's  column  arrived  from  the  west  side 
or  the  Appomattox  at  nine;  P.  M.  At  three  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the 
First  District  of  Columbia  joined  the  rear,  and,  after  march 
ing  to  Jones's  Landing,  halted  for  the  command  to  cross  the 
pontoon  bridge.  Late  in  the  day  the  crossing  was  effected, 
and  the  regiment  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

Some  skirmishing  occurred  on  the  next  day,  in  which 
Lieutenant  McBride,  of  Company  C,  was  wounded. 

On  the  30th,  the  regiment  returned  to  camp,  and  on  the 
same  afternoon  marched  to  the  west  side  of  the  Appomattox. 
On  the  2d  of  August,  it  was  ordered  on  picket  near  the 
enemy' s  lines,  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  army. 

Our  main  line  of  works  in  front  of  Petersburg  conformed 
very  nearly  to  that  of  the  enemy  on  the  left,  bending  south 
ward,  so  as  to  face  the  Weldon  Railroad.  A  picket  line 
extended  from  the  left  of  our  line  of  fortifications,  in  an 
easterly  direction,  through  Prince  George's  Court-House, 
Lee's  Mills,  Sycamore  Church,  and  Cox's  Mills.  On  the 
3d  of  August,  the  headquarters  of  the  regiment  were  estab 
lished  at  Sycamore  Church,  Major  Baker  commanding. 
This  place  was  about  ten  miles  southeast  from  City  Point. 

From  the  8th  to  the  21st  of  August,  the  regiment  was  on 
picket  duty  on  the  Weldon  Railroad,  four  miles  from  Peters 
burg. 

On  the  18th,  while  a  demonstration  was  made  on  the 
Lorth  side  of  the  James,  in  front  of  Richmond,  by  Generals 
Gregg  and  Har.cock,  with  their  respective  commands  of 
cavalry  and  infantry,  and  while  a  portion  of  the  rebel  troops 
were  withdrawn  from  our  front  to  meet  the  emergency,  the 
fifth  corps  of  infantry  advanced  and  took  possession  of  the 
Weldon  Railroad.  Desperate  but  fruitless  efforts  were  made 
by  the  enemy  to  recover  it.  Severe  fighting  occurred  on  the 
21st,  in  which  this  regiment  participated.  Dismounted,  and 
deployed  as  skirmishers  on  the  left  of  the  fifth  corps,  they 


FIKST  DISTRICT  CAVALRY.  197 

participated  in  the  capture  of  a  brigade  of  rebel  troops,    and 
three  stands  of  colors. 

After  picketing  again,  on  the  22d,  the  regiment  became 
engaged  with  a  body  of  rebel  troops  the  next  morning,  and 
drove  th^m  four  miles,  destroying  a  quantity  of  army  stores. 
In  the  afternoon,  Hampton's  Legion  was  encountered.  It 
was  u  Greek  meeting  Greek."  It  was  impossible,  however, 
for  him  to  stand  against  the  sixteen-shooters,  and  he  was 
driven  back,  leaving  his  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field 
We  also  took  some  prisoners.  During  this  last  engagement, 
Captain  Sargent,  of  Company  M,  was  killed  while  charging 
the  enemy.  We  lost  two  men  besides. 

On  the  24th,  the  fighting  was  resumed  at  various  points, 
and  at  some  was  severe,  but  with  no  decisive  results.  On 
the  25th,  this  regiment  met  the  enemy  in  three  distinct  en 
gagements,  repulsing  him  in  each. 

At  four  o'clock  there  were  indications  that  he  intended 
a  Hank  movement,  and  this  regiment  was  ordered  to  the 
extreme  left  of  the  line,  and  dismounted,  to  fortify  against 
the  expected  attack  at  that  point.  After  the  hard  and 
almost  incessant  fighting  of  the  day,  the  men  could  hardly 
have  been  in  the  best  working  condition,  and  yet,  in 
momentary  expectation  of  an  attack,  they  wrought  with  a 
will.  Without  intrenching  tools,  their  own  "hands  minis 
tered"  to  the  necessities  of  the  hour.  Logs,  stumps,  brush, 
roots,  whatever  movable  material  the  forest  afforded,  was 
brought  into  requisition.  The  extemporized  breastwork  was 
hardly  completed,  when  the  enemy  opened  on  us  with  artil 
lery.  Against  this  our  works  were  no  protection.  But 
the  men  stood  firm.  Only  one  man  was  killed,  and  one 
wounded.  There  was  no  enemy  in  sight,  but  all  under 
stood  what  this  shelling  boded. 

The  men  had  received  their  orders,  and  all  was  silent 
alo7ig  the  line.  Every  man  was  at  his  post.  Every  eye 
was  open,  and  every  ear  attent.  No  sound  was  heard  but 
the  roar  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  and  the  scream  and  crash 
of  shells  around  us.  This,  however,  had  continued  but  a 
short  time,  when  the  enemy  was  seen  in  strong  line  of  battle 
advancing  through  the  woods.  No  sooner  had  they  dis 
covered  our  position  than  they  raised  a  yell  and  rushed 


198  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

on  to  the  charge.  But  they  paid  dearly  for  their  temerity 
Our  men  reserved  their  fire — coolly  waiting  till  the  enemy 
was  sufficiently  near.  Their  first  volley  told  with  startling 
effect.  Many  a  poor  fellow  drew  short  breath  and  never 
breathed  again.  Another  and  another  volley  followed  in 
instantaneous  succession,  and  the  enemy  was  swept  from 
our  front.  Unfortunately,  however,  the  infantry  on  our 
right,  pressed  by  superior  numbers,  had  fallen  back,  and 
the  enemy  was  on  our  flank.  The  regiment  held  its  posi 
tion  till  dark,  and  was  the  last  to  leave  the  field.  The  next 
day  it  returned  to  Sycamore  Church  and  resumed  picket 
duty. 

While  here,  our  officers  formed  an  acquaintance  with 
some  of  the  "  F.  F.  V.'s."  For  the  most  part,  the  acquaint 
ance  was  pleasant,  but  not  always.  The  following  incident 
will  illustrate  the  spirit  sometimes  encountered  :  One  of  our 
officers,  while  out  on  a  scouting  expedition  with  a  small 
squad  of  men,  halted  near  a  fine  old  Virginia  mansion,  at  a 
considerable  distance  outside  of  our  lines,  while  he  ad 
vanced  and  politely  accosted  the  lordly  proprietor,  as  he 
sat  puffing  his  cigar  in  the  cool  shade  of  his  piazza.  His 
lordship  at  once  commenced  a  furious  tirade  against  "Lin 
coln  and  his  dirty  minions."  The  lieutenant  listened 
patiently,  meanwhile  observing  one  of  the  colored  women 
carrying  a  fine  churning  of  butter  into  the  house  from  a 
building  near  by,  where  it  seemed  to  have  been  just  made. 
At  the  firs*  pause  in  the  furious  tirade,  he  said,  in  substance, 
"  Well,  sir,  the  war  is  a  costly  thing.  It  has  made  it  neces 
sary  to  tax  almost  every  thing,  especially  luxuries.  JVow, 
as  this  sort  of  talk  seems  a  luxury  to  you,  it  must  be  taxed. 
You  will  please  send  out  to  my  men  a  few  pounds  of  your 
new  butter." 

Whether  from  generosity  or  some  other  motive,  the  but 
ter  was  furnished,  but  the  spirit  of  the  man  was  not  at  all 
improved.  He  went  on  to  abuse  the  Government,  and  all 
who  supported  it,  in  terms  more  violent  than  before.  At 
the  next  pause,  his  tormentor  quietly  remarked  :  u  For  this 
fresh  indulgence,  you  will  please  furnish  us  with  half  a 
dozen  of  your  best  hams,  and  a  sack  of  flour ;  and  the 
sooner  it  is  done  the  better  /" 


FIRST  DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  199 

The  negro  who  executed  the  order  clearly  indicated,  by 
ai»  exhibition  of  his  fine  white  teeth,  and  a  mischievous 
tw  nkle  of  his  eye.  that  he  enjoyed  the  thing  much  better 
th-in  "massa"  did.  The  master,  in  the  mean  time,  was 
foaming  with  rage,  and  venting  his  feelings  in  terms  of  the 
most  intense  bitterness. 

At  length,  the  imperturbable  lieutenant  interposed  coolly  : 
*'  Sir,  your  indulgence  has  gone  far  enough.  You  will  square 
the  account  by  turning  out  the  two  beeves  I  see  in  yondei 
h>t,  arid  if  I  hear  any  more  of  this  abuse  of  my  Government, 
I  will  take  you  along  too."  With  a  polite  good-by,  he 
was  left  a  sadder,  if  not  a  wiser  man.  For  some  days  after, 
the  boys  ate  good,  new,  soft  bread  and  butter,  instead  of 
hard-tack,  and  fresh  beef  and  ham,  instead  of  salt  pork. 

The  portion  of  the  picket-line  held  by  the  First  District 
ot  Columbia,  now  numbering  about  four  hundred  effective 
men,  was  nearly  five  miles  in  length,  extending  along  a  road 
running  nearly  east  and  west,  mostly  through  a  wooded 
country.  Major  Baker,  in  immediate  command  of  two  bat 
talions,  held  the  right  of  the  line,  with  the  reserve  at  Syca 
more  Church,  whilst  Captain  Howe,  with  one  battalion,  held 
the  left,  with  the  reserve  at  Cox's  Mills,  two  miles  east. 

Such  was  the  position  of  this  little  devoted  band  of  four 
hundred  men,  on  the  outer  picket-line,  five  miles  from  any 
support,  when  at  daybreak,  on  the  16th  of  September,  they 
were  suddenly  attacked  by  the  whole  force  of  Hampton's 
cavalry,  supported  by  three  brigades  of  infantry. 

In  some  way,  which  has  never  been  explained,  one 
detachment  of  the  enemy's  force  had  passed  through  the 
picket-line  on  the  right,  held  by  another  regiment.  Another 
had  gone  round  our  left  flank,  where  there  were  no  pickets. 
This  must  have  been  done  hours  before  the  assault,  for  (aa 
it  afterward  appeared)  they  had  barricaded  the  roads  three 
miles  in  our  rear. 

If  the  reader  inquires  why  the  enemy  threw  so  formida 
ble  a  force  against  a  point  so  remote,  so  weak,  and  appa 
rently  so  unimportant,  the  answer  is,  that  just  in  our  rear 
was  a  herd  of  twenty-three  hundred  cattle,  and  the  rebel 
army  wanted  meat. 

If  the  position,  purpose,  and  strength  of  the  assaulting 


200  CNTTED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

party  had  been  known,  any  attempt  at  resistance  would 
have  been  madness. 

The  first  intimation  of  an  assault  at  Sycamore  Church 
was  given  by  the  charging  shout  of  the  enemy.  Instantly 
our  men  rallied  under  their  intrepid  commander,  to  meet 
the  furious  onset.  So  rapid  and  terrible  was  their  fire,  that 
three  times  the  enemy  fell  back  in  confusion.  But  the  con 
test  was  too  unequal.  This  little  handful  of  men  was  in  a 
few  moments  surrounded,  their  L-orses  captured,  and  they 
were  compelled  to  succumb. 

As  illustrations  of  this  sudden,  short,  wild,  and  terrible 
fight,  we  give  one  or  two  incidents.  At  the  first  note  of 
alarm,  Lieutenant  Spaulding,  of  Company  E,  mounted  his 
horse,  which  had  been  kept  saddled  all  night,  and  started 
out  to  reconnoiter.  Meeting  a  body  ot  cavalry,  he  mistook 
them  for  a  party  of  our  own  men,  and  found  himself  among 
them  before  discovering  his  error.  As  he  was  taken  by  them 
for  one  of  their  own  men,  he  rode  along  with  them  till  thn 
order  was  given  to  charge,  when,  with  stentorian  voice,  he 
roared  out,  "Charge — charge!"  and,  putting  spurs  to  his 
horse,  he  dashed  forward,  and  turning  into  the  bushes  made 
good  his  escape. 

Nearly  at  the  same  moment  he  started  down  the  road  to 
reconnoiter,  Lieutenant  Mountfort,  of  Company  K,  started 
with  a  sergeant,  W.  F.  Lunt,  and  a  small  squad  of  men, 
dismounted,  in  the  same  direction.  They  had  gone  but  a 
short  distance,  when  they  met  the  enemy  charging  up  the 
road.  Comprehending  the  situation  at  once,  the  lieutenant 
shouted,  "Give  it  to  them,  boys,  give  it  to  them!"  at  the 
same  time  setting  the  example.  Two  men  at  the  head  of  the 
column  were  seen  to  sway  and  fall  from  their  saddles,  before 
the  unerring  aim  of  the  lieutenant.  Other  saddles  were 
emptied,  and  the  advance  fell  back.  A  moment  later,  how 
ever,  they  came  on  in  line  of  battle.  The  lieutenant  now 
ordered  his  men  to  fall  back  to  a  tree,  which  had  fallen 
across  the  road.  On  reaching  it,  they  found  the  enemy  all 
aroTind  them.  Observing  a  squad  of  them  who  had  just 
seized  Major  Baker,  Sergeant  Lunt  fired  on  them,  when 
instantly  several  carbines  were  leveled  on  him.  Struck  in 
the  head  and  stunned,  he  fell  forward  into  the  thick  tree 


FIRST  DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  201 

top.  Falling  between  the  limbs,  they  closed  over  him,  their 
thick  foliage  concealing  him.  When  consciousness  returned, 
the  body  of  the  gallant  lieutenant  lay  within  a  few  feet  of 
him,  dead,  and  the  enemy  was  plundering  the  camp.  Crawl 
ing  cautiously  out,  he  succeeded  in  reaching  the  bushes, 
where,  falling  in  with  a  small  squad  of  men  who,  like  him 
self,  had  thus  far  escaped  capture,  he  started  with  them  for 
the  next  picket  post.  But  as  they  were  passing  through  a 
deep  cut  in  the  road,  the  sergeant,  from  exhaustion,  being 
somewhat  in  the  rear,  as  those  in  advance  of  him  emerp-ed 
from  the  cut,  they  were  met  by  a  party  of  the  enemy,  and 
nearly  all  captured.  The  sergeant  escaped,  in  consequence 
of  being  in  the  rear.  Who  would  have  thought  that  the 
exhaustion,  which  seemed  to  put  him  to  such  a  disadvantage, 
would  have  been  the  means  of  saving  him  from  a  horrible 
captivity  ?  Such .  are  the  ways  of  Providence.  Of  twenty- 
five  men  of  Company  G,  who  were  captured  on  that  fatal 
morning,  only  three  are  known  to  have  survived  the  bar 
barities  of  their  imprisonment. 

The  attack  on  Cox's  Mills  was  made  at  nearly  the  same 
moment  with  that  at  Sycamore  Church. 

A  little  to  the  left  of  Captain  Howe's  position,  and  at  the 
foot  of  a  very  considerable  descent,  the  road  crosses  a  bridge 
over  a  small  stream.  To  command  this  bridge,  a  slight 
breastwork  had  been  thrown  up  upon  the  high  ground  on 
this  side.  At  the  first  notice  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy, 
the  command  rallied  just  in  time  to  reach  this  breastwork, 
behind  which  they  formed.  A  heavy  force  of  mounted 
rebels  had  crossed  the  bridge,  and  with  wild  yells  was 
charging  up  the  hill,  outnumbering  our  men  ten  to  one.  On, 
on  they  came,  expecting  an  easy  victory.  Coolly  our  men 
waited.  Not  a  shot  was  fired  till  they  were  within  easy  range. 
Then  a  few  volleys  fronuthe  sixteen-shooters  sent  them  rack 
in  confusion.  A  second  time  they  charged,  with  the  same 
result.  This  time  they  did  not  return.  After  waiting  some 
time,  in  expectation  of  another  attack,  scouts  were  sent  out 
to  ascertain  what  they  were  about.  They  found  a  formida 
ble  force  in  front,  and  a  strong  force  advancing  on  each 
tiank. 

No  alternative  now  remained  but  to  fall  back  to  Syca- 


2C2  LNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

more  Church,  as  Captain  Howe  had  been  ordered  to  do,  in 
case  a  retreat  became  necessary.  The  enemy  had  been  so 
severely  punished,  that  he  was  careful  to  keep  at  a  safe 
distance,  and  the  command  fell  back  in  good  order,  and 
without  the  loss  of  a  man.  At  the  church,  however,  a  sad 
fate  awaited  them.  Ignorant  of  what  had  occurred  there, 
they  expected  to  join  Major  Baker's  reserve,  and  to  make  a 
stand.  But  in  the  mean  time,  the  enemy,  having  secured 
their  prisoners,  and  plundered  the  camp,  had  formed  in  a 
semicircle  across  the  road,  and,  dressed  in  our  uniform,  were 
mistaken  for  our  own  men.  Successful  resistance  was  now 
impossible,  and,  having  done  all  that  brave  men  could  do, 
like  men  they  yielded  to  their  fate. 

Some  men  seem  to  bear  a  charmed  life.  Lieutenant  E.  P. 
Merrill,  of  Company  M,  commanded  a  squadron  under  Cap 
tain  Howe.  During  a  few  moments  of  suspense,  anxious  to 
know  the  position  of  the  enemy,  he  sprang  upon  the  first 
horse  that  came  to  hand,  and,  plunging  the  spurs  into  his 
flanks,  dashed  forward  to  reconnoiter. 

The  horse  stumbled,  and,  coming  suddenly  to  the  ground, 
threw  his  rider  over  his  head,  far  down  the  hill.  Instantly 
he  rose,  made  a  hasty  reconnoissance,  and  returned  to  the 
line  in  safety. 

During  the  subsequent  melee,  a  rebel  officer  made  his 
appearance  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and,  taking  deliberate 
aim  at  the  lieutentant,  fired  three  shots  in  quick  succession, 
neither  of  which  took  effect. 

Our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  small,  but  in  prison 
ers,  large,  numbering  several  hundred.  They  were  among 
the  bravest  men  Maine  had  sent  to  the  war,  and  here  their 
services  in  the  First  District  of  Columbia  Cavalry  ended. 

There  was  much  speculation  at  .the  time,  as  to  who  was 
responsible  for  the  exposed  position  of  the  cattle-herd  which 
invited  this  rebel  raid.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  high  officer 
of  the  army,  who  in  all  other  respects  has  deserved  well  of 
his  country,  and  whose  name  is  for  this  reason  withheld. 

Shortly  after  this  affair,  this  officer  dined  with  the  com- 
mander-in -chief  at  the  headquarters  of  General  Kautz.  In 
the  course  of  conversation,  he  put  this  question  :  u  General, 


FIRST  DISTRICT   CAVALRY.  -  203 

how  long  are  we  to  remain  here  ?"  The  reticent  Grant 
smoked  on  a  few  seconds,  then  took  the  inevitable  cigar 
from  his  lips,  and,  while  dislodging  the  ashes  with  his  little 
finger,  quietly  answered  :  "I  don't  know,  General;  if  you 
keep  on  feeding  Lee's  army  with  beef,  we  shall  have  to  stay 
a  good  while/' 

The  questioner  blushed,  and  Grant  resumed  his  smoking. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

THE    ANIMUS    OF    SECESSION.       ^PC 

A  Disloyal  Pastor  and  his  Friends  compelled  to  "  do  justly  " — The  "  Peculiar  Inkitu- 
tion  "  Dies  Hard — Man-Stealers  Foiled  in  their  Schemes  of  Robbery. 

ANOTHEE  phase  of  disloyalty  presented  itself  with  the 
advent  of  the  autumn  of  1863  ;  an  example  of  the  conflicting 
elements  in  Southern  communities  during  the  rebellion, 
whose  sharpest,  most  unrelenting  outbreak  was  seen  in  the 
alliance  of  religion  with  treason. 

It  was  notorious  that  the  clergy  and  women  were  tae 
"  best  haters,"  and  loudest  talkers,  in  the  ranks  of  secession. 
The  reason  lay,  perhaps,  in  the  nature  of  things.  Never  is 
wrong  feeling  and  action  so  intense  as  when  it  takes  the 
sanctions  of  Christianity  ;  while  the  strong  impulses  and  the 
lively  sensibilities  of  woman' s  nature  lend  a  similar  strength 
and  activity  to  it  in  a  bad  cause. 

I  was  making  an  excursion,  in  an  official  way,  toward 
Point  Lookout,  upon  a  Sabbath  evening.  While  approaching 
it  with  a  force  of  about  fifty  men  of  my  cavalry,  we  eame  to  a 
small  church,  about  twenty-four  miles  from  Washington, 
which  was  closed,  and  a  number  of  people  standing  before 
the  door.  I  naturally  asked  the  meaning  of  the  strange 
scene.  It  seemed  that  the  majority  of  the  people  in  the 
parish  were  disloyal,  and,  after  permitting  the  Unionists  to 
occupy  the  sanctuary  a  portion  of  the  time,  nearly  in  pro 
portion  to  their  relative  numerical  strength,  had  voted  to 
exclude  them  altogether. 

I  inquired  :  "  Who  has  the  key  to  this  church  ? " 

"Rev.  Mr.  P.,  who  lives  down  the  road  a  quarter  of  a 
mile" 


A  DISLOYAL  PASTOR.  205 

I  immediately  rode  away  to  the  parsonage,  and  knocked 
at  its  door.  A  gentleman  with  white  cravat  and  dignified 
demeanor  opened  it,  when  I  asked  him  : — 

"You  preach  in  the  little  church  up  at  the  Corners,  do 
you  not?" 

"I  do." 

And  you  keep  the  key  ? " 
js,  sir." 
you  won't  let  the  loyal  people  serve  God  there?" 

"No;  the  parish  voted  to  exclude  those  who  didn't 
agree  with  us." 

"  Well,  I  want  you  to  unlock  the  church." 

"Oh,  no;  I  can't  do  that." 

' '  Then  you  will  go  with  me  to  Washington  ;  and  yon 
can  have  three  minutes  to  decide  which  you  will  do." 

He  reached  out  his  hand  to  take  the  key,  which  was 
hanging  on  the  wall,  near  the  door. 

"  That  will  not  do  ;  you  must  go  and  unlock  the  church 
yourself." 

"No,  I  can't." 

"Then  start  for  Washington." 

"  Of  course,  you  have  the  power." 

"  Yes,  and  I  intend  to  exercise  it." 

The  aggrieved  pastor  then  reluctantly  followed  me  with 
the  key.  We  approached  the  church,  before  which  stood  the 
wondering  and  waiting  people,  when  my  clerical  friend  hand 
ed  the  key  to  a  brother,  requesting  him  to  open  the  door. 

I  interposed.  "  Don't  you  take  that  key  ;  he  must  unlock 
the  church." 

There  being  no  alternative,  he  doggedly  obeyed  ;  and,  one 
after  another,  the  outsiders  went  in,  till  the  house  was  nearly 
full. 

1  said  to  them:  "Now  you  can  serve  God  according  to 
the  dictates  of  your  own  conscience." 

The  loyal  minister,  who  had  vainly  attempted  to  occupy 
the  pulpit  for  several  successive  Sabbaths,  entered  it,  and 
commenced  the  usual  service.  Meanwhile,  an  officer  of  my 
cavalry  force  reported  that  the  horses  were  suffering  for 
want  of  water.  I  directed  them  to  be  taken  to  a  ford  four 
miles  distant  for  watering. 


206  UNITED   STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

When  tlie  rebels  found  my  cavalry  were  gone,  they  also 
went  into  the  church,  and  commenced  a  disturbance  of  the 
meeting,  first  by  scraping  their  feet  upon  the  pews,  then  by 
audible  expressions  of  their  hatred.  I  rose,  and,  in  no  gentle 
mood,  called  an  orderly,  and  told  him  to  ride  in  hot  haste 
after  the  cavalry,  and  tell  the  officer  in  command  to  send 
back  ten  men  as  quickly  as  possible. 

In  a  short  time,  the  force  came  on  the  full  gallop  to  the 
church,  when  I  ordered  a  halt.  The  frightened  disturbers 
of  loyal  worship  attempted  to  get  out  of  the  way,  when  I 
directed  the  arrest  of  about  a  dozen  of  them,  and  told  them 
they  must  march  with  us  to  Washington  that  night.  They 
begged  for  mercy,  but  it  was  too  late. 

They  certainly  didn't  play  by  the  way ;  for  we  reached 
the  city  before  daylight  the  next  morning. 

After  I  had  risen,  in  single  file,  and  with  drooping  heads, 
and  hats  in  hand,  they  formed  a  ring  of  chop-fallen  chivalry 
around  me — a  comical  and  pitiful  sight.  Upon  giving  their 
parole  they  were  released,  and  no  further  quarrel  interrupted 
the  Union  worshipers,  who  gratefully  assembled  upon  the 
recurrence  of  their  appointed  service  in  the  rural  temple. 

In  every  thing  and  everywhere,  it  was  evident  to  the 
casual  observer  that  slavery  was  the  soul  of  the  rebellion— 
the  educator  in  treason,  perverting  law,  religion,  and  social 
order,  and  laying  on  its  altar,  like  the  idolatry  of  Hin- 
loostan,  unsparingly,  human  victims. 

The  determination  of  the  Government,  and  of  the  army 
officers  generally,  notwithstanding,  to  save  the  "peculiar 
institution"  with  the  Union,  in  the  beginning  of  the  war, 
was  equally  apparent.  Under  the  notorious  fugitive  slave 
law  of  1857,  which  offered  a  premium  upon  the  re-enslave 
ment  of  the  refugee  from  unrequited  toil  and  personal  abuse, 
the  commissioner  appointed  to  enforce  its  provisions  in 
Washington  was  a  secessionist  by  the  name  of  Cox,  who 
took  care  to  restore  every  chattel  to  the  claimant,  without 
nicely  discriminating  between  the  bond  and  free.  As  a 
consequence,  not  a  few  persons,  who,  by  birth  or  purchase 
of  freedom,  were  citizens,  were  seized  and  forced  into  bond 
age  I  had  some  very  interesting  cases  of  the  kind. 

A  free-born   mulatto  girl  was  kidnapped   by  the  slave 


NEGRO-STEALERS   FOILED.  207 

catchers,  and  through  perjury  the  proper  order  was  ob 
tained,  and  she  was  taken  to  her  pretended  owner.  Intel 
ligent,  and  resolved  to  he  free,  she  had  the  facts  conveyed 
to  my  headquarters.  By  a  military  order  I  compelled  the 
woman-stealer  to  restore  to  her  friends  the  captive  robbed 
of  her  rights  in  the  name  of  law.  The  tinge  of  African  hue 
alone  made  the  outrage  a  trivial  incident  to  all  but  the  grate 
ful  and,  I  might  add,  graceful  young  lady. 

Upon  my  return  from  an  expedition  into  Lower  Mary 
land,  when  within  a  mile  from  the  State  line,  I  met  a  farmer 
with  a  wagon  load  of  slaves,  consisting  of  a  father  and 
mother,  with  their  two  small  children,  and  a  wife's  sister, 
all  in  charge  of  a  constable  and  a  force  of  armed  citizens. 
The  slaves,  tied  hand  and  foot,  and  thrown  upon  the  straw 
in  an  old  country  wagon,  were  on  their  way  back  to  bond 
age.  And  this  was  done  in  the  name  of  law,  to  pacify  tbe 
men  who  were  plotting  to  destroy  the  Union  ! 

I  was  completely  exhausted ;  but,  nerved  to  action  by 
indignation  too  intense  for  expression,  I  demanded  the  autho 
rity  for  the  horrible  proceeding.  The  claimant  produced 
his  parchment,  bearing  the  seal  of  Commissioner  Cox.  He 
flourished  the  precious  document  before  me,  and  directed 
my  attention  to  the  great  seal  of  the  United  States. 

Upon  careful  perusal  of  it,  I  found  that  it  bore  the  names 
of  only  four  slaves,  while  the  load  included  five.  When  I 
pointed  the  chivalrous  and  confident  owner  to  the  apparently 
unimportant  circumstance,  he  replied:  "We  don't  count 
that  baby,"  pointing  to  an  infant  three  months  old,  in  the 
arms  of  a  mother,  whose  feet  were  tied,  while  she  leaned 
against  the  side  of  the  vehicle. 

I  answered:  "The  mother  was  a  slave,  and  the  child 
was  born  in  bondage.  You  claim  the  mother,  and  of  course 
the  child  is  kidnapped  ;  and  as  you  profess  to  be  a  law- 
abiding  citizen,  and  are  violating  the  statute,  I  arrest  the 
entire  company." 

He  warmly  protested,  and  threatened  resistance. 

He  said,  "Take  the  baby  ;  what  in  h — 11  do  we  want  of 
the  baby  ?  We  want  grown  people." 

The  mother  began  to  weep.  One  of  my  men  was  touched, 
and,  turning  to  me  with  pleading  tone,  inquired  if  I  would 
separate  the  mother  and 


208  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

The  display  of  a  dozen ^of  Colt's  revolvers,  by  myself  and 
assistants,  satisfied  my  excited  friend  that  I  was  in  earnest  in 
expressing  my  interpretation  of  the  law.  I  sprang  into  the 
wagon,  and  with  my  saber's  point  cut  the  ropes. 

This,  I  think,  was  the  first  practical  application  of  the 
principle  of  the  famous  Emancipation  Proclamation  of  later 
date. 

I  directed  the  horses'  heads  to  be  turned  toward  Wash 
ington,  when  the  owner  and  driver  of  the  load  remonstrated, 
and  said,  with  an  oath  : 

' '  Let  the  niggers  walk  to  Washington. ' ' 

I  said,  "No.  You  brought  them  here,  and  must  carry 
them  back." 

The  poor  captives  sank  on  their  knees  ;  the  venerable  old 
man  exclaiming,  with  uplifted  hands,  u  Bless  God  !"  and  the 
mother  adding,  "God  bless  Colonel  Baker  !" 

I  took  them  to  my  headquarters  and  set  them  at  liberty. 

This  transaction,  of  course,  brought  upon  my  head  the 
curses  of  the  slaveholders  of  Lower  Maryland.  But  I  had 
violated  no  law,  on  account  of  the  fortunate  presence  of  the 
baby. 

A  delegation  called  on  Mr.  Lincoln  the  next  morning,  pro 
testing  against  the  arbitrary  act,  producing,  as  before,  the 
sacred  parchment.  I  was  summoned  to  the  White  House. 
The  President  said  : 

"Baker,  a  serious  charge  is  preferred  against  you;" 
directing  my  attention  to  the  document,  with  the  inquiry, 
"  What  do  you.  know  about  the  case  'C ' 

I  briefly  made  my  statement,  giving  prominence  to  the 
number  of  the  slaves,  and  the  juvenile  supernumerary. 

The  Chief- Magistrate,  worthy  of  the  nation  he  repre 
sented,  replied  jocosely  :  "  Well,  Baker,  I  guess  the  baby 
eaves  you  ! ' '  and  dismissed  the  whole  aflair,  leaving  the 
"contrabands"  at  large,  and  myself  to  the  prosecution  of 
my  thankless  profession. 


7 


0  ^  want,  of  the  baby?  '« 

THE  MADDEST  MAN  IN  ALL  MARYLAND. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

ENGLISH    SYMPATHY    WITH    THE    SOUTH— NEGRO-HATE   IN 
WASHINGTON. 

/ifc  English  Emissary  of  the  South — He  Deceives  the  Secretary  of  State — My  Ac 
quaintance  with  Him — The  Fruitless  Effort  to  Betray  Me — The  Journey  to  the 
Old  Capitol  Prison — Negro-hate  in  the  National  Capital. 

MTTCH  has  been  said  and  written  about  English  sympathy 
and  co-operation  with  the  South.  Perhaps  nothing  can  give 
the  extent  and  success  of  this  alliance  a  more  just  prominence 
in  the  record  of  the  war  than  some  account  of  its  practical 
operations,  involving  the  highest  official  position,  but  with 
out  the  least  intimation  of  inability  or  disloyalty.  On  the 
contrary,  the  narrative  only  reveals  the  deliberate  and  skillful 
conspiracy  of  the  abettors  of  treason  in  the  "mother  coun 
try,"  deceiving  the  most  intelligent  statesmanship,  because 
it  seemed  impossible  that  the  betrayal  of  confidence  could 
appear  in  the  disguise  of  culture,  friendship,  and  appreciated 
courtesies  from  the  most  eminent  men  in  the  Government. 

During  the  first  years  of  the  rebellion,  an  Englishman 
made  his  appearance  in  Washington,  whose  apparent  interest 
in  the  loyal  cause,  and  his  open  denunciations  of  the  rebel 
leaders,  attracted  the  attention  of  our  able  Secretary  of 
State.  He  gained  ready  access  to  other  officers  of  the  Gov 
eminent. 

So  completely  had  he  won  the  confidence  of  Mr.  Sewaid 
that  he  received  letters  to  the  commander  of  the  Department 
of  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  With  them  he  waited  upon  that 
officer,  and  was  shown  the  usual  attentions  which  follow 
such  an  introduction.  From  the  commanding  general  he 
received  a  carte  blanche  to  visit  the  outposts  whenever  he 
thought  proper.  Disregarding  the  obligations  such  favors 
imposed,  he  passed  the  Federal  lines  beyond  Winchester, 
and  boldly  entered  the  camp  of  Stonewall  Jackson,  boasting 

14 


210  UNITED  STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

of  his  deception,  and  receiving  similar  civilities  to  those 
shown  him  by  the  Union  officers.  He  remained  several 
days  on  hostile  soil,  and  then  returned  to  Washington,  after 
having  received  from  Jackson  permission  to  cross  his  lines 
at  any  time,  day  or  night. 

While  he  was  in  Washington,  he  soon,  by  his  suspicious 
bearing,  his  secret  meetings  with  well-known  secessionists, 
awakened  my  suspicions.  Upon  inquiry,  I  learned  that  he 
was  a  sympathizer  with  the  South,  and  a  reputed  correspond 
ent  of  a  London  paper. 

In  the  prosecution  of  my  inquiries,  I  ascertained  that  he 
was  an  accredited  writer  for  the  English  press,  and  was 
assured  that  the  stranger  was  a  reliable  gentleman.  But 
believing  that,  if  my  British  friend  had  facilities  for  passing 
the  lines  of  both  armies,  he  could  give  me  important  intelli 
gence,  I  decided  to  cultivate  his  acquaintance.  I  accordingly 
wrote  him  a  friendly  note  requesting  him  to  call  at  my  head 
quarters,  which  he  soon  after  did.  He  opened  the  conversa 
tion  by  an  effort  to  impress  my  mind  with  his  importance  as  a 
detective  in  the  Union  service,  being  able  to  cross  both  lines 
at  pleasure.  He  further  informed  me  that  he  had  j  ust  returned 
from  Stonewall  Jackson's  camp,  and  had  given  to  our  Gen 
eral  B.  valuable  information.  He  claimed  to  occupy  neu 
tral  ground,  and  naturally  had  but  little  interest  in  either 
side.. 

Still,  if  I  would  employ  and  pay  him,  he  could  render 
great  service  to  the  Republic  ;  and  he  could  obtain  a  cer 
tificate  from  the  British  minister  which  would  give  him  free 
entry  ev^n  to  the  rebel  capital.  During  the  interview,  T 
detected  in  his  conduct  a  revelation  of  his  real  character. 
Notwithstanding  his  indorsement  by  Government,  I  was 
sure  of  his  treasonable  designs.  If  so,  he  was  clearly  a 
dangerous  man,  and  I  determined  to  know  more  about  him. 
I  desired  him  to  obtain  the  certificate  from  the  English  minis 
ter  referred  to  by  him.  An  examination  of  it  convinced  me 
it  was  a  forgery.  I  applied  to  the  minister,  who  informed 
me  that  he  knew  of  no  such  man  in  Washington.  At  our 
next  meeting,  upon  the  succeeding  day,  I  expressed  my 
regret  that  I  had  not  the  means  of  getting  to  rebel  camps 
which  he  had  ;  adding,  that  with  them,  how  easily  I  could 


AN   ARTFUL  ENGLISHMAN.  211 

get  the  plans  and  movements  of  the  enemy.  The  bait  was  a 
success. 

He  replied  :  "  Nothing  is  easier.  Go  with  me,  and  I  will 
pass  you  along  as  a  friend,  and  associate  correspondent." 

He  detailed  minutely  the  plan,  and  we  agreed  to  leave 
in  company  the  next  morning  for  Harper's  Ferry,  en  route 
to  General  Jackson's  quarters. 

About  eleven  o'clock  that  night,  when  leaving  my  office, 
I  received  the  following  note,  handed  me  by  a  colored  man : — 

COLONEL  BAKER: — 

Beware  of  that  Englishman !  He  has  devised  a  plot  to  betray  you.  For 
God's  sake,  don't  go  with  him. 

MRS.  . 

The  missive  was  written  by  a  true-hearted  Union  woman, 
a  seamstress  in  one  of  the  aristocratic  secession  families  of 
Washington. 

This  revelation  increased  my  anxiety  to  become  his  trav 
eling  companion.  I  left  Washington  with  him,  according  to 
appointment,  and  reached  Winchester  in  due  time,  by  rail. 
The  rebel  picket-line  was  between  that  place  and  Stanton. 

Remaining  incog,  myself,  my  friend  proceeded  to  General 
B.'s  headquarters  and  procured  passes  for  both.  Hiring 
a  horse  and  buggy,  we  proceeded  toward  Stonewall  Jack 
son'  s  headquarters,  he  suggesting  that  it  would  not  probably 
be  safe  to  go  directly  to  them  without  giving  notice  of  our 
arrival  within  the  lines.  Four  miles  from  them,  we  halted 
at  a  farm-house,  where  he  said  he  was  acquainted,  and  pro 
posed  to  send  the  message  to  camp.  I  was  introduced  prop 
erly,  and,  after  an  excellent  supper,  a  letter  was  written  and 
read  to  me  by  him,  addressed  to  the  rebel  chief,  announcing 
our  proximity,  and  that  we  would  report  to  him  in  the  morn 
ing.  A  trusted  house  servant  was  called,  and  received  his 
instructions  in  regard  to  the  delivery  of  the  note. 

Carelessly  sauntering  forth  into  the  yard,  I  followed  him 
by  a  circuitous  route  to  his  shanty,  and  asked  him  if  he  had 
the  letter. 

"Yes,  massa,"  he  replied  ;  "  which  of  de  letters  ?"  hand 
ing  me  two — the  one  which  I  had  seen,  and  another  to  the 
Chief  of  Staff,  running  thus :— 


212  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

Have  just  arrived,  and  am  at  Mr. 's  house.     Have  with  me  the 

Yankee  detective,  Baker.     Send  and  capture  us  both. 

I  took  these  notes,  sealed  the  envelopes,  gave  them  to  the 
bearer,  and  told  him  to  hurry  as  fast  as  possible.  He  left, 
and  I  returned  to  the  dwelling,  where  my  companion  wag 
conversing  with  the  lady  of  the  house. 

It  was  seventeen  miles  to  the  rebel  headquarters,  and  I 
knew  the  servant  could  not  get  back  until  morning.  I  de 
termined  to  await  the  issue.  I  occupied  the  same  bed  with 
the  Englishman ;  but  passed  a  sleepless  night.  He  was 
singularly  restless  toward  morning,  often  going  to  the  win* 
dow,  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  expected  cavalry,  or  hear  the 
echo  of  the  hoofs.  He  complained  of  being  ill.  At  seven 
o'clock  the  messenger  arrived;  I  had  detected,  from  the 
movements  of  all  around  me,  some  great  event  was  expected. 

The  servant  was  eagerly  questioned,  who  said  he  had 
delivered  the  letters  according  to  orders. 

Breakfast  was  dispatched,  and  nine  o'clock  came,  when 
I  proposed  to  my  associate  that  we  wait  no  longer  for  a 
special  invitation,  but  go  forward  to  General  Jackson's 
camp.  He  acquiesced  ;  our  carriage  was  brought  to  the 
door,  the  farewell  spoken  to  the  family,  and  we  were  on 
our  way. 

Great  surprise  was  expressed  by  my  friend  that  no  reply 
had  been  received  to  the  note.  I  apologized  for  the  ap 
parent  neglect,  on  the  ground  of  urgent  business,  and  urged 
that  we  hasten  on. 

When  about  four  miles  from  our  hospitable  home  for  the 
night,  we  came  to  four  corners,  and  I  inquired  : — 

"  Which  road  leads  to  Winchester?" 

He  pointed  with  his  whip,  saying  :   "That  one." 

I  said  :  ' '  Stop  a  moment ! ' '  sprang  from  the  buggy,  drew 
and  cocked  my  six-shooter  within  six  inches  of  his  head, 
exclaiming  :  "  You  scoundrel,  you  are  my  prisoner.  I  have 
only  been  waiting  to  see  how  far  you  would  go,  and  what 
shape  your  base  design  would  take." 

lie  turned  deadly  pale,  and  tried  to  speak,  when  I  added  : 
" Don't  open  your  mouth;  if  you  do,  I'll  blow  your  brains 
out." 


THE  TABLES  TURNED.  215 

Directing  him  to  alight,  I  drew  a  pair  of  handcuffs  from 
my  pocket,  wrapped  in  a  newspaper,  which  I  deliberately 
unrolled  ;  and  with  my  pistol  in  my  left  hand,  with  my  right 
I  clasped  the  manacles  on  his  wrist,  and  said : — 

"You  have  attempted  to  betray  me;  if  you  make  an 
effort  to  alarm  any  one,  or  try  to  indicate  who  I  am,  I  will 
shoot  you  dead.  If  you  go  quietly  along,  you  shall  not  be 
hurt.  Now,  get  into  the  buggy." 

I  took  my  pistol,  put  the  muzzle  under  the  cushion  of  the 
seat,  and  with  my  left  hand  drove  the  horse.  Fortunately, 
we  met  no  rebel  soldiers,  and  not  a  word  was  spoken  until 
we  came  to  within  half  a  mile  of  the  rebel  picket-line,  when  I 
%drove  to  the  side  of  the  fence,  told  my  prisoner  to  alight,  and 
entered  with  him  a  strip  of  woods,  passed  safely  the  picket, 
and  at  four  o'  clock  the  following  morning  we  were  at  Win 
chester. 

I  handed  the  traitor  temporarily  over  to  the  military 
authorities,  and  sought  repose.  A  few  hours  later,  I  started 
for  Washington,  and  upon  my  arrival  placed  him  in  the  Old 
Capitol  prison,  whose  records  will  disclose  his  name. 

In  this  connection,  chronologically,  one  or  two  incidents 
will  present  in  bold  relief  the  unparalleled  malignity  of 
feeling  cherished  by  the  rebels  and  their  friends  toward  an 
unoffending  race,  because  it  was  the  providential  occasion 
of  their  troubles,  and  true  to  the  instincts  of  humanity  in  its 
desire  for  freedom  ;  a  malignity  intensified  by  the  despotic 
possession  and  control  of  the  body,  and,  so  far  as  possible, 
of  the  soul  of  the  enslaved. 

One  day  I  was  riding  toward  the  railway  depot  in  Wash 
ington,  when  I  noticed  a  crowd,  and  saw  blows  descending 
upon  the  form  of  a  colored  boy.  Upon  getting  nearer,  I 
found  that  a  large  and  brutal  man  was  amusing  himself  and 
the  spectators  by  beating  a  well-dressed  mulatto  lad,  who 
was  bitterly  crying.  I  sprang  from  the  carriage,  and,  taking 
the  ruffian  by  the  arm,  inquired  what  he  was  about.  Turn  - 
ing  a  savage  look  upon  me,  he  drew  back  to  strike ;  but  it 
has  been  my  custom,  when  necessary  to  use  weapons  of 
defense,  to  get  the  first  blow  or  shot.  Before  he  could  take 
his  aim,  he  was  lying  on  his  back  under  my  feet.  The 
injured  child  ran  away,  while  a  comrade,  who  somehow 


216  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

recognized  me,  followed,  repeating  my  name.      I  then  re 
entered  the  carriage  and  drove  on  unmolested. 

There  was  another  instance  of  fiendish  hate,  in  which  a 
woman  was  the  principal  actor.  I  was  crossing  the  street,- 
upon  a  dismal  night,  when  just  before  me  walked  a  lady  in 
splendid  attire,  attended  by  a  gentleman.  Further  on  was 
a  poor  colored  girl,  clearing  the  pavement,  as  well  as  she 
could  with  her  dilapidated  broom,  from  the  snow  water  and 
mud,  for  the  penny  any  passer-by  might  drop  into  her  hand. 
She  stepped  back  at  the  approach  of  the  couple  referred  to, 
and  extended  her  hand.  The  Southern  lady  leaned  toward 
the  little  mendicant,  and,  with  a  spiteful  push,  laid  her  liat 
in  the  Hooded  street.  She  rose  again,  dripping  and  shiver,^ 
ing.  I  confess  I  was  angry ;  and,  going  before  her,  I  re 
marked  : —  , 

"  That  was  very  unladylike  ;  a  specimen  of  the  politeness 
of  the  chivalry,  I  suppose?" 

She  replied  excitedly:  "How  dare  you  speak  thus  to 
me  !"  adding  epithets  of  scorn  toward  the  abolitionist. 

Her  escort  then  took  up  the  gauntlet,  and  inquired  my 
name,  handing  me  his  card.  I  told  him,  and  invited  him  to 
call.  Both  parties  were  bound  for  the  post-office,  where  we 
again  met,  and  again  the  lady' s  friend  demanded  satisfaction. 
I  gave  him  a  glimpse  of  my  six-shooter,  and  intimated  that 
he  had  better  drop  the  subject,  which  he  decided  to  do,  and 
I  heard  no  more  from  him. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

GIGANTIC  VICES  OF  THE   NATIONAL   CAPITAL. 

Gambling  and  the  Gamblers — The  Purpose  to  Break  up  the  Dens  Discouraged— The 
Midnight  Raid — Results — Drinking  and  Liquor  Saloons — The  Descent  upon  them 
— Broken  up — Licentiousness  and  its  Patrons — The  Raid  on  their  Haunts  at  Dead 
of  Night — The  Arrests. 

I  HAVE  made  some  disclosures  respecting  the  contraband 
>•;  trade  in  gaming-cards ;  but  it  remains  now  to  record  the 
^prevalence  and  ruinous  effects  of  the  vice  of  gambling  itself, 
during  the  war,  pre-eminently  in  the  National  capital.  I 
have  no  desire  to  exaggerate  the  evils  that  lurk  in  the  high 
or  low  places  of  society  ;  to  speak  of  Washington  in  a  carp 
ing  tone,  as  if  it  had  been,  or  is,  a  Sodom  beyond  redemp 
tion  ;  nor  do  I  wish  to  magnify  my  office  at  the  expense  of 
any  man's  fair  fame,  whatever  his  position. 

But  I  can  not  be  true  to  myself,  the  bureau  I  represented, 
nor  yet  to  the  people  for  whose  sake  I  send  forth  these 
annals,  and  omit  a  narrative  which  will  surprise  and  sadden 
thousands.  And  may  the  country  we  love,  the  families,  the 
youth  of  the  land,  profit  by  the  recital.  It  is  well  known, 
that  there  have  always  been  in  large  cities  what  are  called 
"  gambling  hells " —costly  houses,  fitted  up  with  elegance, 
and  furnished  with  everything  to  attract  the  eye,  and  lend 
fascination  to  the  destructive  pastime.  Indeed,  many  virtu 
ous  citizens  earnestly  defend  the  existence  of  this  and  other 
unblushing  vices  as  necessary  evils ;  when,  there  can  be  no 
crime  which  the  law  should  not  reach,  and  will,  if  fearlessly 
wielded  by  its  officers,  and  they,  in  turn,  are  sustained  by 
the  people. 

In  Washington,  gambling  increased  naturally  and  inev 
itably,  with  the  progress  of  the  war.  It  is  not  a  pleasant 
thing  to  say,  that  the  patronage  of  the  gaming-table  had 
been  drawn  largely  from  members  of  Congress ;  to  whom 


218  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

were  added,  with  the  increasing  number  of  officers  gathering 
to  the  capital,  many  high  in  military  command.  With  the 
demand, for  such  haunts  of  "sporting  men,"  their  number 
multiplied  until  I  had  a  list  of  more  than  a  hundred  houses, 
many  of  which  were  gorgeous  beyond  description.  The 
fitting  up  of  a  single  place  of  this  kind  cost  twenty-live 
thousand  dollars. 

The  terrible  fact  which  drew  my  attention  to  the  subject 
was  the  discovery  that  nine  in  every  ten  of  the  defalcations 
"by  paymasters,  and  others  in  the  employment  of  the  Govern 
ment,  were  occasioned  in  every  instance  by  losses  at  the 
card  table.  I  recovered  forty  thousand  dollars  which  had 
passed  into  the  hands  of  gamblers  from  those  of  a  trusted 
and  respected  official. 

I  called  on  the  military  commander  of  the  district,  and* 
was  discouraged  in  my  purpose  of  testing  the  statute  on 
gaming  in  the  capital.  The  popular  acquiescence  in  this 
state  of  things,  the  patronage  of  distinguished  men,  and  the 
character  of  the  proprietors  of  the  "hells,"  were  the  argu 
ments  used  by  that  officer.  Still,  I  was  not  convinced,  but 
the  more  decided  to  proceed  to  business. 

I  accordingly  mustered  my  entire  force  of  assistants,  and 
detailed  to  them  my  plans.  We  were  to  move  at  the  same 
moment,  surround  the  dozen  or  more  gaming-houses  on 
Pennsylvania  Avenue,  and  at  the  designated  time,  to  pre 
vent  any  concert  of  action  by  the  proprietors,  or  conceal 
ment  of  their  business,  to  enter  and  break  them  up.  It  was 
half-past  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  the  dash  was 
made,  the  gamblers  arrested,  and  their  houses  closed. 

The  next  morning  brought  intense  excitement  among  the 
sporting  gentlemen — some  denouncing  the  interference,  and 
others  offering  bribes.  A  number  of  them  raised  a  sum  of 
more  than  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  me,  if  I  would  allow 
them  to  resume  their  lucrative  calling.  It  is  scarcely  neces 
sary  to  say,  that  I  refused  to  pause  in  the  reform  commenced. 

Mr.  Lincoln  sent  for  me,  and  I  repaired  to  the  Wrhite 
House,  to  find  him  carelessly  sitting  in  shirt-sleeves  and 
slippers,  ready  to  receive  me.  He  said  : — 

"Well,  Baker,  what  is  the  trouble  between  you  and  the 
gamblers  \ ' J 


GAMBLING   AND   GAMBLERS.  219 

I  told  my  story.     He  laughed,  and  said : — 

' ( I  used  to  play  penny-ante  when  I  ran  a  flat-boat  out 
West,  but  for  many  years  have  not  touched  a  card." 

I  stated  to  him  the  havoc  gambling  was  making  with  the 
army,  alluded  to  before,  when  he  approved  my  course,  but 
reminded  me  of  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  reform. 

I  replied  :  "I  can  not  fight  the  gamblers  and  the  Govern 
ment  both." 

The  President  replied  :   "You  won't  have  to  fight  me" 

I  added  :  "  It  is  a  fight ;  and  all  I  ask  is  fair  play  :  that 
the  Government  will  let  me  alone,  and  I  will  break  up  the 
business." 

And,  WK!I  this  perfect  understanding,  we  parted  for  the 
time. 

Remarked  one  of  the  gamesters  to  me  :  "After  all,  I  don't 
care  ;  it  has  cost  me  five  thousand  dollars  a  month  to  keep 
officers  still." 

The  result  was,  the  business  was  effectually  spoiled  in 
Washington,  and  some  of  the  leaders  in  it  removed  to  other 
cities ;  the  power  of  wholesome  law  was  vindicated,  the  offend 
ers  punished,  and  Washington  saved,  for  the  time,  from  one 
of  its  greatest  curses  ;  men  of  commanding  position  exposed, 
and  young  men  saved  from  the  serpent's  charm  and  fang. 

I  shall  leave  this  topic  with  the  final  report  made  to  the 
proper  authority:  — 

OFFICE  PROVOST-MARSHAL  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  \ 
WASHINGTON,  August  26,  1863.  \ 

Hon.  E.  A.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War  :— 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  statement  in  relation  to 
certain  illegal  establishments  in  this  city,  and  the  steps  taken  by  me  for  their 
suppression. 

I  refer  to  the  gambling-houses  of  Washington.  The  evils  that  grow 
lirectly  out  of  the  unrestrained  practice  of  gambling  are  too  apparent,  and 
ave  been  too  often  and  eloquently  described,  to  require  more  than  the  mere 
mention  to  awaken  the  indignation  of  all  honest  and  true  men,  and  call  forth 
the  most  strenuous  efforts  for  their  suppression.  The  peculiar  character  of 
the  population  of  this  city,  composed  largely  of  young  men  removed  from  the 
restraints  of  home,  and  the  influences  of  the  family  circle,  offers  inducements 
to  the  gambling  fraternity  by  which  they  have  thus  far  largely  profited. 
There  are  more  professional  gamblers  in  this  city  to-day,  than  in  the.  city  of 
New  York,  and  two  weeks  since  there  were  more  gambling-houses. 

1  have  had  reoorted  to  me  no  less  than  ere  hundred  and  sixty- three  of 


2^0  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

these  establishments,  where  games  of  chance  were  openly  permitted,  and 
where  gathered  nightly,  hundreds,  and  I  might  perhaps  say  with  truth,  thou 
sands  of  the  young  and  middle-aged  men  of  this  city,  including  always  a  large 
proportion  of  persons  in  Government  employ.  In  such  dens  of  ruin  could  be 
found  almost  every  night  officers  of  all  grades,  paymasters  and  other  disburs 
ing  officers,  clerks  in  the  different  departments,  and  persons  whose  escape 
from  certain  ruin  lay  in  the  direction  of  abusing  the  public  trusts  confided  to 
them,  and  retrieving  their  losses  at  the  expense  of  the  Government. 

I  might  cite  cases  of  this  nature  where  disgraced  officials  of  prominont 
standing  have  openly  pointed  to  gamblers  and  gambling-houses  as  the  causes 
of  their  downfall ;  and  in  more  than  one  instance  Government  money  to  a 
large  amount  has  been  recovered  from  parties  who  knew  perfectly  well  that 
their  plunder  was  the  proceeds  of  official  crime  and  dishonor. 

So  gigantic  had  this  evil  become,  so  utterly,  through  powerful  local  influ 
ences,  beyond  the  control  of  the  civil  authorities,  so  intense  the  desire  for  ita 
suppression  by  those  who  know  its  significance  as  a  leading  inducement  to 
crime,  and  the  most  prominent  element  in  demoralizing  both  the  officers  and 
men  of  our  armies,  that  I  resolved  upon  the  adoption  of  the  only  remedy 
available  and  sure  of  success,  and  that  was  to  peremptorily  close  every 
known  gambling-house  in  the  city. 

About  two  weeks  since  I  received  orders  and  detailed  officers  for  that 
purpose,  and  those  orders  have  been  so  effectively  carried  into  execution, 
that  public  gambling  has  entirely  ceased,  and  will  not  be  resumed  so  long  as 
the  control  of  the  matter  is  left  to  me.  It  is  true  that  the  men  who  have 
carried  on  this  infamous  business  still  remain  in  the  city,  that  they  are  labor 
ing,  by  every  means  that  money  can  purchase  or  influence  command,  to  pro 
cure  a  reversal  of  my  orders,  and  recommence  their  depredations  upon  Gov 
ernment  officials,  under  the  shadow  of  Government  authority. 

I  am  credibly  informed  that  movements  are  being  made,  by  parties  claim 
ing  high  consideration  in  official  quarters,  with  the  view  of  protecting  the 
Interests  of  the  unemployed  gamblers,  and  reopening  the  doors  of  those 
gambling  hells  which  I  have  summarily  closed,  but  which,  if  unlocked,  will 
again  be  filled  with  crowds  of  swindlers  and  their  unhappy  victims 

I  have  thought  it  my  duty,  under  a  full  knowledge  of  all  the  facts  in  the 
case,  to  thus  briefly  call  your  attention  to  the  matter,  in  the  earnest  hope 
that  the  efforts  I  have  made  to  rid  this  city  of  its  greatest  pest  and  nuisance 
will  receive  the  approbation  and  earnest  support  of  the  War  Department  and 
of  the  Government  authorities. 

I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  L.  C.  BAKER, 

Colonel  and  Provost-Marshal  War  Department. 

Upon  reading  the  above  report,  my  course  was  fully  sus 
tained  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  who,  when  convinced  of 
the  existence  of  a  wrong,  was  ever  ready  and  prompt  to 


UQUOR-SHOPS.  221 

act  to  the  extent  of  his  jurisdiction  and  influence  for  its  sup 
pression. 

Another  kindred  and  gigantic  vice  was  unblu shingly 
doing  its  work  of  death,  which  I  could  not  overlook.  The 
most  superficial  observer  of  Washington  must  have  noticed 
the  unusual  number  of  drinking  places,  in  every  form  and 
under  every  possible  disguise.  Wherever  soldiers  were 
stationed,  or  army  work  in  progress,  there  was  seen  at  least 
the  beer  barrel  and  whisky  demijohn.  Old  street  corners 
and  vacant  lots  were  occupied  with  the  bar,  around  which  lay 
the  intoxicated  victims  of  their  poison — the  "boys  in  blue." 
In  the  suburbs,  under  the  shadow  of  hospitals,  and  beside 
bridges,  the  liquor  booth  was  reared,  until  it  was  estimated 
that  not  less  than  thirty-seven  hundred  such  fountains  of 
ruin  were  in  active  operation.  In  spite  of  the  most  stringent 
municipal  and  military  regulations,  the  traffic  went  on  un 
checked,  and  daily  increasing.  The  imposition  of  a  fine,  or 
incarceration  for  a  few  hours  in  a  guard-house,  was  a  mere 
joke  to  the  speculators  in  the  morals  and  lives  of  men.  But 
to  enter  the  saloons,  and,  with  the  heavy  blows  of  the  ax, 
to  crush  in  the  barrel-head,  bring  decanters  in  fragments  to 
the  floor,  and  then  lay  the  structure  itself  in  ruins,  was  too 
expensive  a  jest  to  be  often  repeated. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Twenty-second  and  G  Streets  were  the 
headquarters  of  the  depot  quartermaster.  Here  were  located 
the  Government  warehouses,  storehouses,  workshops,  manu 
factories,  and  corrals,  employing  eight  thousand  men  or 
more. 

Two  sides  of  an  entire  square  were  occupied  by  the  low 
est  places  of  intoxication.  In  many  of  them,  the  entire  stock 
in  trade  was  a  cask  of  lager  beer  and  a  gallon  of  unknown 
and  villainous  compound  called  Bourbon  whisky,  dealt  ou 
in  an  old  rusty  tin  cup,  at  ten  cents  per  drink.  In  these 
dens  could  be  seen,  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night,  the 
common  soldier,  the  teamster,  and  the  mechanic.  I  distinct 
ly  recollect,  that  on  the  eve  of  an  important  battle,  when 
necessary  to  dispatch  to  the  front,  at  an  hour's  notice,  a 
train  of  one  hundred  wagons,  not  five  Government  teamsters 
were  sufficiently  sober  to  move  forward. 

When  all  other  means,  laws,  and  agents  had  failed  to 


222  UNITED   STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

reach  and  remedy  the  frightful  evil,  my  aid,  it  will  appear 
from  the  correspondence  quoted,  was  invoked.  I  officially 
gave  notice  to  the  occupants  of  these  saloons,  that  they  must 
close  them  by  four  o'clock,  the  next  day,  or  take  the  conse 
quences  of  a  refusal  to  comply. 

They  had  so  often  before  been  warned,  that  no  attention 
was  given  to  my  caution.  At  the  expiration  of  the  appointed 
time,  with  my  employees,  all  armed  with  axes,  I  proceeded 
to  the  dens  of  Bacchus,  and  commenced  the  work  of  destruc 
tion.  Soon  the  long  lines  of  liquor  shops  were  leveled  to 
the  ground,  and  only  broken  and  empty  barrels,  crushed 
decanters,  and  rubbish  remained. 

In  one  case,  when  the  demolition  began,  the  proprietor, 
with  pencil  and  paper,  made  an  inventory  of  his  property. 
When  asked  what  he  proposed  to  do  with  it,  he  replied : 
44  Make  a  bill,"  and  scratched  away. 

I  replied:  "It  is  hardly  worth  the  while  to  present  to 
the  Government  a  bill  for  a  few  decanters  and  rattlesnake 
whisky  ,  I  think  I  will  tear  down  the  house  over  your  head, 
and  then  you  can  make  out  a  bill  worth  your  while." 

The  assembling  of  a  large  army  at  the  capital  also  drew 
after  it  those  camp-followers  who,  of  all  lost  humanity,  are 
the  most  degraded — -fallen  women.  While  the  gambler  and 
liquor-seller's  den  sprang  up  at  the  first  sound  of  war,  as  if 
spontaneously  from  the  earth  which  echoed  the  tramp  of 
armies,  from  every  city  came  the  painted  wreck  of  woman 
hood,  and  hired  the  room  at  the  fashionable  hotel,  the 
dwelling,  the  abandoned  chamber,  or  the  negro  cabin,  to 
traffic  in  the  virtue,  health,  domestic  peace,  and  highest 
interests  of  men.  Along  the  Potomac,  in  front  of  Washing 
ton,  stretching  for  fifteen  miles  along  the  banks,  lay  the 
Union  troops. 

The  horses  of  staff  officers,  the  ambulance,  and  orderlies, 
could  be  seen  during  the  night,  and  after  the  sun  had  risen 
even,  waiting  before  the  kennels  of  vice,  for  those  who  were 
within  them. 

Nor  are  the  instances  few,  where  the  pretty,  vain  wife 
or  daughter  has  been  enticed  over  the  lines,  to  become  the 
member  of  the  domestic  military  circle.  So  notorious  had 
this  vice  become,  that  I  appealed  to  the  Secretary  of  War, 


HOUSES   OF   ILL-FAME.  223 

who  issued  an  order  that  no  commissioned  officei  or  private 
could  enter  the  city  without  a  written  pass  from  his  com 
manding  general.  A  violation  of  the  order  would  subject 
the  offender  to  a  lodgment  in  the  guard-house. 

For  a  time,  the  order  was  partially  regarded,  but  soon  set 
aside,  and  the  corruption  seemed  to  gain  strength  by  the  tem 
porary  check.  At  length,  for  the  two-fold  purpose  of  en 
forcing  the  order  and  exposing  to  public  contempt  the  trans 
gressors,  I  decided  to  make  a  descent  upon  some  of  the 
representative  houses  of  this  class. 

The  scenes  which  transpired  at  the  hour  of  midnight,  in 
these  dens  of  corruption,  beggar  language. 

At  an  hour  appointed,  and  with  a  concerted  plan,  similar 
in  all  its  details  to  that  which  was  sprung  upon  the  gamblers, 
with  my  force  I  made  a  raid  upon  the  disreputable  houses. 

The  moment  came,  the  signal  was  given,  doors  were 
opened,  the  windows  raised,  and  a  scene  of  confusion  and 
comico-tragic  nature  followed,  which  must  have  been  wit 
nessed  to  have  been  appreciated.  Faces  quite  covered  to 
avoid  recognition,  gas  turned  off,  and  a  general  stampede  of 
gentlemen  sporting  martial  emblems,  were  some  of  the  inci 
dents  attending  the  onset  upon  the  intrenchments  of  vice 
in  midnight  quiet  of  the  nation's  capital.  Between  sixty 
and  seventy  officers  and  men  were  arrested  and  locked  up 
in  the  guard-house,  for  reflection  upon  their  suddenly  inter 
rupted  debauchery. 

When  General  Burnside  opened  fire  upon  Fredericks- 
burg,  which  was  the  first  assault  upon  the  town,  the  notice 
of  bombardment  given  to  the  inhabitants  was  so  short, 
that  their  flight  from  the  city  was  a  wild  and  hasty  stam 
pede,  leaving  the  many  palatial  residences  of  this  ancient 
seat  of  Virginia  aristocracy  in  all  the  completeness  of  their 
peaceful  occupancy.  Among  the  first  troops  who  crossed  the 
river  were  those  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  - 
Upon  reaching  the  elegant  mansion  of  Commodore  G.,  they 
immediately  tore  down  the  rich  curtains,  and  pillaged  the 
apartments  adorned  with  expensive  works  of  art,  brought 
by  members  of  the  family  from  Europe.  The  feeling  among 
the  troops  then  seemed  to  be,  that  an  enemy's  house  and 
"chattels  personal"  were  common  plunder.  Oil  paintings. 


224  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

bronze  statuary,  and  family  relics,  were  appropriated  by  the 
military  visitors  to  the  house  of  Commodore  G.,  and  seized 
by  me  upon  their  arrival  at  Washington.  A  few  days  later, 
the  accomplished  and  beautiful  Mrs.  T.,  sister  of  Commodore 
G.,  came  to  the  capital,  and,  dreading  to  meet  me,  as  I  after 
ward  learned,  on  account  of  the  rumors  which  had  reached 
her,  that  I  was  gifted  with  a  special  ferocity  of  nature, 
applied  to  Dr.  S.,  a  distinguished  physician  of  Washington, 
whose  acquaintance  I  had  formed  in  a  sick-room,  who  vol 
unteered  to  accompany  her  to  my  office,  assuring  her  of 
respectful  treatment. 

With  evident  trepidation,  she  entered  the  room,  and 
stated  her  errand.  An  elegant  bronze  horse,  which  had 
ornamented  her  brother's  house,  was  then  standing  on  my 
safe.  I  told  her  I  saw  no  reason  why  these  domestic  trea 
sures,  including  heavy  silver- ware,  bearing  the  family  name, 
should  not  be  restored.  The  next  day  she  called  again,  and 
spent  some  time  looking  over  the  opened  boxes  of  these 
family  relics.  She  said  at  length : — 

"  Can  I  have  these  again  1"     • 

" Certainly,  madam;  they  are  of  no  use  to  the  Govern 
ment." 

She  burst  into  tears,  thanked  me,  and  retired. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

A    PERILOUS    ADVENTURE. 

Pope's  Defeat — Banks's  Advance — The   Importance  of  communicating  with  binv— • 
The  Successful  Attempt — Rebel  Pursuers — The  Escape. 

ONE  of  the  most  disastrous  defeats  of  the  Union  army 
was  that  of  General  Pope,  when  he  was  driven  through  the 
mountains  of  the  Blue  Eidge  by  General  Lee,  in  the  autumn 
of  1863.  General  Banks  had  left  the  Shenandoah  Valley-, 
but  knew  nothing  of  the  perilous  condition  of  the  army 
he  was  hastening  to  join,  nor  the  danger  that  would  attend 
his  advance,  with  Lee's  entire  army  across  his  path.  To 
save  his  battalions,  it  was  necessary  to  communicate  to  him 
the  movements  of  the  two  armies.  Excepting  the  route  from 
Washington  to  Centreville,  the  rebels  had  full  possession, 
and  the  road  was  exceedingly  perilous.  Innumerable  rumors 
were  floating  about  Washington,  to  the  effect  that  Banks  had 
met  Lee,  and  was  annihilated.  The  Secretary  of  War  was 
unable  to  obtain  any  information  of  him.  He  had  dispatched 
two  messengers  with  instructions  to  him  not  to  attempt  a 
junction  with  Pope.  One  of  them  was  captured,  and  the 
other  came  back,  after  several  fruitless  attempts  to  get  be 
yond  Centreville,  and  refused  to  risk  his  life  further. 

Secretary  Stanton,  in  this  emergency,  sent  for  me,  and 
asked  me  if  I  had  a  man  on  my  force  daring  and  sagacious 
enough  to  carry  the  dispatches  to  Banks. 

44 If  you  will  prepare  your  messages,"  said  I,  "I  will 
see  that  they  are  delivered  ;  or,  at  any  rate,  that  an  attempt 
is  made  to  deliver  them." 

I  got  ready  at  once  for  the  uncertain  excursion,  and 
reported  to  Mr.  Stanton  for  orders.  He  gave  me  the  dis 
patches,  which  I  concealed  under  my  clothes,  next  to  my 


226  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

body,  and,  mounting  the  celebrated  racehorse  "Patchen,  ' 
I  galloped  away  from  the  Capital  at  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  reaching  Centre ville  at  ten.  I  reported  to  Gen 
eral  McDowell,  and  requested  a  fresh  and  fleet  horse.  I 
waited  an  hour,  when  the  black  clouds,  which  had  been 
gathering  overhead  for  some  time,  began  to  pour  down  a 
steady  rain,  and  the  air  grew  chill  and  dismal. 

The  darkness  was  almost  impenetrable  to  the  vision.  The 
roads  were  in  a  wretched  condition— muddy,  broken,  and 
frequently  obstructed.  No  horse,  fit  for  such  a  journey — a 
journey  requiring  one  sure  of  foot,  swift,  and  perfectly 
trained— could  be  found  at  that  hour  of  the  night,  in  the 
disorder  of  the  army,  and  "Patchen"  had  already  carried 
his  owner  thirty-five  miles  along  a  rough  and  toilsome  route. 

These  were  the  considerations  which  urged  me  to  remain 
at  McDowell's  head-quarters  until  the  journey  might  be  com- 
nienced  with  better  auguries  of  safety.  The  darkness,  how 
ever,  in  itself  was  not  unfavorable  to  the  enterprise.  By 
its  help,  1  might  hope  to  pass  through  regions  occupied  by 
the  rebels,  which  would  be  utterly  closed  to  me  in  daylight 
or  moonlight.  I  could  depend  on  "Patchen,"  in  every 
emergency,  to  the  extent  of  his  strength,  while  a  strange 
horse  might  give  me  infinite  trouble,  and  involve  me  in 
great  danger.  But,  above  all,  Banks' s  army  must  be  saved, 
and  hours  were  precious. 

As  the  only  alternative,  I  remounted  "Patchen,"  and 
plunged  into  the  darkness.  It  was  eight  miles  from  Ma- 
nassas  by  the  direct  route,  but  I  took  the  Gainesville  road, 
which  would  increase  the  distance  to  twenty-four  miles. 
After  pursuing  my  benighted  way,  often  guided  solely  by 
the  instinct  of  the  noble  animal  that  bore  me,  at  daybreak 
I  came  upon  traces  of  the  army  for  which  I  was  searching. 
An  interview  with  General  Banks  immediately  followed, 
which  conveyed  to  him  the  first  intelligence  of  Pope's 
defeat,  with  orders  to  march  for  Alexandria  as  rapidly  as 
possible. 

Having  accomplished  the  object  of  my  adventure — to 
the  great  relief  of  that  officer,  who  was  intensely  anxious 
to  hear  from  Washington — within  an  hour  I  was  on  my 
way  with  dispatches  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  I  determined, 


THE  PURSUIT.  227 

without  delay,  to  risk  a  daylight  journey  "back,  and  re 
traced  my  way  to  Bristow  Station,  from  which,  to  avoid  a 
circuitous  course,  I  started  for  the  rebel  lines.  After  riding 
two  miles,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  rebel  army,  in  rapid 
march  eastward,  toward  the  old  Bull  Run  battle-ground. 
There  were  infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery,  in  detached 
squads,  occupying  the  entire  country  ahead,  with  occa 
sionally  a  small  opening  between  them.  Prudence  would 
have  dictated  a  speedy  retreat,  and  as  wide  a  circuit  as 
•  would  really  be  necessary  for  safety ;  but  I  was  very 
anxious  to  save  the  distance.  I  rode  down  to  within  three 
hundred  yards  of  the  line,  and  attempted  to  discover  an 
opportunity  for  slipping  through. 

I  loitered  in  the  rear  for  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and 
finally  observed  an  opening  —  a  break  in  the  train  ;  and, 
though  I  should  certainly  be  seen,  and  must  take  my 
chances  with  the  bullets,  I  determined  to  make  the  effort 
to  pass  at  this  point.  I  took  my  six-shooter  in  my  right 
hand,  partly  concealing  it  at  my  side,  grasped  the  reins 
firmly  with  my  left,  and  started,  at  first  slowly  and  cau 
tiously,  down  the  road.  Before  I  had  gone  far,  I  was  dis 
covered  and  hailed.  I  made  no  answer,  and  immediately 
became  a  target  for  every  soldier  within  hearing  distance. 
I  now  nerved  myself  for  a  quick  and  desperate  venture, 
and  gave  my  horse  the  spurs.  It  was  necessary  either  to 
turn  back,  or  to  pass  within  thirty  feet  of  a  whole  squad 
of  infantry  —  that  being  the  only  opening.  I  again  lay 
down  upon  the  neck  of  "  Patchen,"  who  shot  by  like  an 
arrow.  As  he  passed  the  troops,  they  fired,  and  the  bullets 
flew  thickly  about  him  ;  but  horse  and  rider  escaped  unhurt 
I  raised  myself  in  the  saddle,  and,  with  pistol  in  hand, 
waved  an  adieu  to  my  disappointed  foes  :  then  bending 
again  to  "  Patchen' s"  neck,  he  bore  me  rapidly  from  their 
sight.  A  cavalry  force,  who  had  heard  the  firing,  now 
appeared  in  the  distance,  and  began  to  discharge  their  car 
bines  at  me. 

The  cavalry  at  first  numbered  as  many  as  forty.  They 
continued  the  pursuit  for  a  mile,  when,  one  by  one,  they 
began  to  lag  behind,  firing  generally  an  ineffectual  parting 
shot.  It  was  not  long  until  only  six  or  eight,  who  had 


228  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

remarkably  good  horses,  followed  me,  and  they  were  too 
far  behind  to  fire  with  any  accuracy  of  aim.  Sometimes, 
however,  I  became  entangled  in  brush,  or  temporarily 
impeded  by  mud  ;  and,  on  two  or  three  occasions,  the 
foremost  man  rode  to  within  twenty  yards  and  fired. 

For  nine  miles  I  did  not  slacken  my  pace.  Only  three 
of  the  party  were  now  chasing  me,  the  rest  having  fallen 
behind.  My  horse  was  covered  with  foam  and  dust,  and 
began  to  show  signs  of  failing  strength — the  necessary  result 
of  so  long  travel,  at  so  rapid  a  pace.  My  powers  were 
strained  to  their  utmost  capacity.  I  had  ridden  almost 
continuously  over  a  hundred  miles,  through  mud,  and 
rain,  and  darkness  ;  but  this  closing  excitement  called  up 
the  latent  powers  which  every  man  possesses,  but  which 
only  lend  their  aid  in  the  direst  emergency.  I  saw  a  little 
hill  ahead,  and  spurred  on  to  get  fairly  over  it  before  the 
other  party  reached  its  foot.  I  passed  over,  and  was  out 
of  sight  for  the  minute.  I  wheeled  sharply  round,  and 
turned  into  a  thick  clump  of  pines,  a  little  to  the  right,  and 
there  dismounting,  stood  holding  by  the  saddle. 

I  remained  perfectly  still,  and  the  party  rode  past.  They 
went  on  for  a  considerable  distance,  when  one  of  them, 
perceiving  that  there  was  nobody  ahead,  turned  his  horse 
a  jout,  and  rode  back.  He  came  toward  the  pines,  glancing 
eagerly  this  way  and  that.  He  was  not  more  than  twenty 
yards  from  me,  when  a  movement  of  "Patchen"  revealed 
his  hidden  man.  My  pursuer  saw  at  a  glance  my  position, 
and  raised  his  carbine  to  fire. 

A  crisis  had  come  in  the  encounter,  and,  raising  the 
pistol  still  in  my  hand,  I  discharged  it  at  my  enemy.  The 
horse  sprang  forward,  and  his  rider  fell.  I  then  leaped 
into  the  saddle,  gave  the  wounded  man,  who  was  on  the 
point  of  rising,  another  shot,  and  rode  out  into  the  beaten 
path.  The  other  two,  hearing  the  report  of  the  pistol, 
returned  to  the  pursuit,  while  I  struck  off,  at  a  right  angle 
with  the  path,  to  pass  them  unobserved.  They  saw  me, 
however,  and  dashed  forward  with  great  speed,  one  of  them 
firing  his  carbine,  in  the  desperate  endeavor  to  prevent  my 
escape.  Each  backward  glance  revealed  the  frenzied  excite- 


THE  ESCAPE-  231 

ment  of  my  foes,  and  their  determination,  at  all  hazards,  to 
take  me,  either  dead  or  alive. 

I  now  came  to  the  banks  of  Bull  Run,  where  the  final 
struggle  for  dear  life  and  liberty  was  at  hand.     The  stream 
was  swollen,  and  it  would  require  the  best  exertions  of  my 
good  steed  to  swim  it.     I  knew  that  if  the  pursuers  reached 
the  bank  before  I  reached  the  other  side,  I  should  be  at  th 
mercy  of  their  bullets.     On  the  other  hand,  I  knew  tha 
the  Union  forces  occupied  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream — 
that  being  the  boundary  of  the  picket  line — and  that  if  I 
should  succeed  in  getting  across  Scifely,  the  peril  for  that 
day  was  over. 

I  spurred  rny  horse  to  his  final  effort  of  speed,  and  was 
well  ahead  when  I  arrived  at  the  stream.  I  plunged  into  it, 
and  "  Patchen"  bravely  breasted  the  swift  current.  It  was 
only  eight  or  ten  yards  wide,  and  this  distance  was  soon 
accomplished ;  but  the  bank  on  the  north  side  was  almost 
perpendicular,  and  the  horse  made  two  or  three  ineffectual 
efforts  to  scale  it.  I  heard  distinctly  the  shouts  of  the  two 
men  behind  me,  and,  cheering  ' '  Patchen ' '  with  encouraging 
words,  which  he  evidently  understood  as  well  as  his  rider, 
he  sprang  forward,  and  in  a  moment  stood  proudly  on  the 
top  of  the  bank,  while  the  echo  of  a  shot,  intended  for  me, 
died  away  over  the  waters  from  which  I  had  just  emerged. 

I  dismounted,  and  went  to  the  edge  of  the  declivity  to 
watch  the  movements  of  my  pursuers.  The  first  galloped 
down  to  the  margin  of  the  stream,  and,  after  considerable 
urging,  his  horse  commenced  swimming  across.  Before  I 
had  occasion  to  fire,  the  Union  pickets  upon  the  bluff,  hav 
ing  heard  the  enemy's  shot,  made  their  appearance.  I 
shouted  to  them,  and  told  them  I  was  the  bearer  of  dis 
patches  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  arid  was  chased  by  rebels. 
Immediately  four  or  five  bullets  were  on  the  way  to  the 
Confederate  horseman,  who  was  midway  in  the  stream. 
He  tumbled  from  his  saddle,  and  floated  down  the  river, 
whose  current  was  tinged  with  his  blood.  His  comrade 
took  the  hint  and  disappeared  in  the  distance. 

Relieved  from  the  peril  of  pursuit,  I  remounted  "Patch- 
en,"  and  moved  leisurely  toward  Washington,  where  1 
arrived  at  three  o'clock,  p.  M.,  and  reported  to  the  Wai 


232  DOITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

Department.  I  had  ridden  one  hundred  and  twenty -four 
miles  since  about  six  o'clock  of  the  preceding  afternoon, 
without  a  moment's  sleep.  I  went  to  my  quarters  utterly 
prostrated  with  exhaustion.  From  the  time  the  pursuit 
began,  to  have  my  pistol  ready  in  my  right  hand,  I  had 
constantly  held  the  rein  in  my  left,  which  became  so  badly 
swollen,  it  required  careful  dressing  for  more  than  a  week. 
Poor  "Patchen"  looked  more  dilapidated  than  his  master, 
and  required  good  nursing  for  over  a  fortnight. 

Mr.  Stanton  expressed  his  satisfaction  at  the  result  in  a 
characteristic  manner,  by  simply  saying  to  me,  after  reading 
my  dispatches  and  hearing  my  story:  "Well,  go  and  tell 
Mr.  Lincoln." 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

SPECULATION  AND  FRAUD. 

Devices  of  Contractors — Detection  of  Forage  Contractor — Appeal  to  the  President-"- 
Further  Frauds  as  "Silent  Partner". 

MANY  of  the  ingenious  devices  resorted  to  by  contractors, 
by  which,  to  gain  their  fraudulent  ends  without  risk  of 
detection  have  already  been  disclosed  ;  but  I  shall  here 
give  another  illustration,  which,  on  account  of  its  boldness 
and  success,  deserves  especial  notice. 

I  detected  a  conspicuous  Government  contractor  in  exten 
sive  speculations  in  the  delivery  of  forage.  He  was  arrested 
and  placed  in  the  "Old  Capitol  prison."  His  father,  very 
indignant  at  his  son's  imprisonment  on  such  an  accusa 
tion,  which  he,  in  simple  faith,  considered  unmerited,  and 
which  would  inevitably  bring  disgrace  upon  his  family, 
applied  to  the  Secretary  of  War  for  his  release.  The  father 
was  a  prominent  politician  of  Pennsylvania,  and,  at  the  time 
of  his  interview  with  the  Secretary,  was  accompanied  by 
Members  of  Congress,  besides  other  friends. 

He  appeared  to  rest  in  the  belief  that  there  would  be 
little  or  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  acquittal  of  his  son, 
and  strongly  urged,  as  a  reason,  the  absurdity  of  supposing 
that  a  gentleman  of  character  so  high,  could  have  designedly 
defrauded  the  Government. 

But  the  Secretary  of  War,  having  sufficient  evidence  to 
be  convinced  of  the  guilt  of  the  contractor,  was  unmoved  b^ 
his  entreaties,  and  refused  to  grant  his  petition. 

Not  discouraged  by  the  vain  attempt,    he  next  made 
application  to  President  Lincoln.      During  this  interview, 
the  prisoner' s  cause  was  not  the  only  topic  of  conversation 
but  Colonel  Baker's  discipline  and  rule  constituted  also  a 


234  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

very  important  and  lengthy  one.'  The  patriotic  Congressmen 
denounced  the  latter  in  unqualified  terms,  for  having  had 
the  audacity  to  arrest  a  highly  respectable  citizen,  and  con 
fine  him  within  the  walls  of  the  American  Bastile.  They 
remarked  that  such  outrages,  committed  by  detectives,  if 
allowed,  would  arouse  the  people,  who  would  hurl  from 
their  offices  these  minions  of  power. 

They  seemed  to  think  that,  if  they  could  convince  tho 
President  of  the  righteousness  of  their  attacks  upon  the 
detective  system,  their  work  toward  the  release  of  the 
prisoner  would  be  more  speedily  accomplished. 

This,  with  much  more,  delivered  in  a  very  emphatic 
manner,  made  so  strong  a  plea,  that  Mr.  Lincoln  thought  it 
necessary  to  consult  me.  He  accordingly  sent  for  me,  and 
requested  me  to  relate  to  him  all  the  circumstances  connected 
with  the  detection  and  arrest  of  the  contractor. 

I  gave  him  as  explicit  an  account  as  I  could,  and  then 
asked  his  permission  to  hold  the  prisoner  in  custody  twelve 
hours  longer ;  adding  that  if,  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  I 
should  be  unable  to  produce  facts  sufficiently  proving  his 
guilt,  and  my  rightful  authority  for  arresting  him,  1  would 
consent  to  his  acquittal. 

The  President  approved  of  this  proposition,  which  was 
sent  to  the  prisoner's  friends;  and  the  next  morning,  his 
father,  attended  by  the  Congressional  delegation,  referred 
to  before,  called  at  the  War  Department,  to  notify  the 
Secretary  that  the  President  had  promised  to  set  the  pris 
oner  at  liberty. 

The  same  morning,  I  had,  carried  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
an  extended  and  unreserved  confession  of  guilt  by  the  con 
tractor.  This  was  now  produced,  and  read  in  the  presence 
of  the  whole  company.  In  it,  the  writer  very  minutely 
related  the  manner  in  which  he  committed  the  frauds  ;  he 
also,  to  prove  his  sincerity,  handed  to  me  thirty-two  thou 
sand  dollars,  one  of  the  items  in  his  speculations  at  the 
expense  of  the  Government. 

The  effect  upon  so  proud  a  father  of  the  overwhelming 
intelligence  conveyed  in  this  full  confession  of  the  contractor, 
and  before  so  numerous  an  audience,  may  be,  perhaps,  par 
tially,  but  never  fully  imagined.  The  undeniable  evidence 


THE  CRIME  DISCLOSED.  235 

of  his  son's  guilt,  coming  so  forcibly  upon  him,  at  the  very 
moment  that  he  had  fondly  anticipated  would  clear  him 
from  all  suspicions,  and  place  him  higher  than  before  in 
public  opinion,  on  account  of  his  being  so  unjustly  arrested 
and  imprisoned,  bowed  him  down  with  shame  and  sorrow. 

The  distinguished  friends  who  had  accompanied  him  to 
the  Department,  and  who,  with  him,  had  anticipated  a  far 
different  issue  of  their  proceedings,  were  speechless  with 
astonishment  and  chagrin. 

The  silence  was  hnally  disturbed  by  a  melancholy  allu 
sion  to  the  natural  depravity  of  man,  and  soon  afterward 
the  uncomfortable  parties  dispersed. 

This  short  but  sad  sketch  of  the  fraudulent  undertakings 
of  a  contractor,  is  but  a  solitary  instance,  among  many  others 
of  a  similar  kind,  which  might  be  recorded. 

The  Secretary  of  War,  wisely  judging  that  the  criminal 
had  forfeited  all  just  claim  to  public  benefit,  passed  an  order, 
which  took  from  him  the  privilege  of  making  any  further 
contracts  with  the  Government.  But  so  steeped  in  villany 
was  his  nature,  that  he  concluded  to  evade  the  order,  and 
still,  though  in  a  more  surreptitious  manner,  pursue  his 
swindling  operations. 

He  submitted  a  proposal,  through  a  partner  in  business, 
to  the  department  quartermaster  at  Alexandria,  to  furnish 
what  is  called  "mixed  grain,"  or  oats  and  corn,  in  the  pro 
portion  of  twenty  pounds  of  oats  and  twelve  of  corn.  It 
will  be  well  to  remark  that,  in  this  transaction,  he  took 
especial  care  to  keep  his  name  secret,  and  acted,  therefore, 
as  the  "  silent  partner." 

Oats  were  worth  ninety,  and  corn  forty  cents.  Up  to 
this  time,  no  mixed  grain  had  been  received  by  the  Govern 
ment.  The  contractor,  therefore,  prepared  a  glowing  state 
ment  of  the  advantages  of  the  grain  to  the  Government. 
His  enthusiastic  assertions  regarding  the  advantages  to'  be 
obtained  from  the  mixed  grain  were  so  convincing,  that, 
upon  the  recommendation  of  the  department  quartermaster, 
the  Government  authorized  a  contract  for  the  delivery  of  it, 
to  the  large  amount  of  three  million  bushels. 

I  was  ignorant  of  the  negotiations  until  the  affair  had 
at  its  consummation.  Then,  as  confident  a?  ^  I 


236  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

been  cognizant  of  the  whole  development  of  the  transaction, 
of  a  fraudulent  operation,  I  immediately  commenced  the 
work  of  its  detection. 

It  is  manifest  that  the  difference  of  price  in  the  two  kinds 
of  grain  was  considerable  ;  and,  therefore,  it  was  an  advan 
tage,  which  the  contractor  would  not  willingly  let  slip  by, 
to  deliver  a  greater  proportion  of  oats  than  of  corn,  as  the 
price  of  the  former  was  so  much  greater  than  the  other. 

The  profits  in  this  single  contract  we  may  safely  estimate 
at  not  less  than  the  almost  incredible  sum  of  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

At  this  date, ,  my  attention  was  attracted  to  a  fruitful 
source  of  gain  at  the  expense  of  virtue,  and  even  decency : 
the  traffic  in  corrupt  literature  and  art.  I  know  of  no  lower 
grade  of  depravity  than  that  of  this  shameless  business. 
The  vile  book,  photograph,  and  wood-cut,  were  scattered  by 
sutlers,  mail  agents,  and  others,  throughout  the  army.  I 
found  them  in  large  quantities  in  the  mail-bags  of  the  Gov 
ernment.  The  extent  to  which  the  fiendish  business  of  ruin 
ing  the  morals  and  bodies  of  men  was  carried,  would  scarcely 
be  believed  by  the  good  people  of  the  rural  districts,  or  even 
of  the  cities. 

.  The  art  of  photography  and  printing  has  flooded  the 
country  with  these  cheap  and  shameless  appeals  to  the 
lowest  and  most  brutal  passions.  No  quiet  hamlet  is  so 
sheltered  by  kindly  moral  influences,  that  it  is  not  reached 
"by  the  poison  of  this  trade.  But  the  absence  from  home 
of  the  many  thousands  of  our  volunteers — separated  as  they 
were  from  all  the  softening  and  elevating  restraints  of 
domestic,  and  social  life — afforded  an  opportunity  for  these 
human  vampires,  who  do  their  work  by  stealth,  unknown 
before  in  this  country.  They  appreciated  and  improved  it. 

The  illegal  and  infamous  source  of  gain  came  to  my 
knowledge  in  various  ways  and  from  different  quarters. 
The  post-office  being  the  principal  channel  through  which 
the  business  was  carried  on,  I  made  a  formal  application 
to  the  Postmaster-General  for  aid  in  reaching  the  outrage  : — 

I  received  all  the  encouragement  I  desired,  and  entered 
immediately  to  check,  if  I  could  not  break  up,  the  disgrace 
ful  traffic.  I  soon  got  on  the  track  of  a  large  quantity  of  the 


A    GUATEFUL    SOUTHEiiN    LADY.  237 

vile  goods,  on  their  way  to  the  army.  They  were  seized, 
and  their  estimated  value,  according  to  the  purchase-price, 
was  not  less  than  twenty-two  thousand  dollars.  It  was 
decided  to  make  a  bonfire  of  this  pile  of  sensual  trash. 
Our  pure-minded  President  intimated  that  he  would  like  to 
see  the  conflagration.  It  was  kindled  in  front  of  the  White 
House,  and  he  enjoyed  the  sight,  with  the  zest  of  a  noble 
nature,  to  which  vice  was  a  loathing. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

A   FEMALE    ADVENTURER. 

in  the  Rebellion  —  Her  Aid  indispensable  in  the  worst  as  well  as  the  b««t 
Causes  —  A  Spicy  Letter  —  Miss  A.  J.  —  Vidocq's  Experience. 


" 


A  WOMAN  in  every  plot"  is  almost  a  proverb  among 
those  who  have  had  much  to  do  with  successful  conspiracies 
and  treachery. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  Miss  Ford,  aid-de-camp  of  the 
cavalry  commander  Stuart,  betrayed  General  Stoughton  and 
his  staff  to  guerrilla  Moseby'  s  band.  I  find  a  spicy  epistle  on 
the  subject,  from  a  lady  of  the  first  standing,  among  the  in 
tercepted  correspondence  of  the  war,  which  is  a  fair  speci 
men  of  refined  hate  to  the  North,  along  with  a  touch  of 
sympathy  with  a  betrayed  and  captive  Union  officer  :  — 

GEORGETOWN. 

DEAE  J.  —  Ina  is  sending  off  a  letter,  in  which,  I  presume,  she  tells  you  the 
news  of  the  day.  (You  know  how  much  of  that  article  there  is  in  George 
town.)  So  I  will  commence  at  once  with  my  little  piece  of  business,  although 
I  presume  you  have  heard  that  General  Stoughton  is  now  a  prisoner  in  Rich 
mond.  Thank  Heaven  !  He  has  at  last  reached  the  desired  haven,  but  I  fear 
he  is  rather  in  a  destitute  condition.  Three  impudent  rebels  dashed  into  Fair 
fax  and  took  the  gentleman  out  of  his  bed,  with  a  number  of  other  soldiers, 
horses,  and  contrabands;  and  I  hear  that  some  were  in  a  state  of  nudity. 
What  a  grand  entree  it  must  have  been  into  Richmond.  But  while  I  rejoica 
that  his  little  hands  are  kept  from  "picking  and  stealing,"  and  that  his  noble 
efforts  for  crushing  this  wicked  rebellion  are  now  confined  within  four  walls, 
yet  I  can't  help  feeling  a  little  sorry  for  the  discomfort  he  will  necessarily 
Buffer,  and  which  he  richly  deserves  —  a  prisoner  among  strangers,  and  he  must 
be  without  clothing,  money,  or  any  of  the  necessaries  of  life.  Now,  Aunt 
Josie,  please  ask  Colonel  Leftrich,  or  any  of  the  family,  if  at  any  time  they 
go  to  Richmond,  won't  they  be  so  kind  as  to  go  and  see  him.  You  know, 
Joe,  they  are  people  of  much  wealth  and  standing,  and  no  matter  what  Gen 
eral  Stoughton  might  want,  in  the  way  of  money  or  clothing,  would  be  most 
cheerfully  returned.  Probably  Colonel  Leftrich  would  write  to  some  friend 


MISS  A.  J.'S   STATEMENT.  239 

in  Richmond.  His  mother  and  sister,  who  were  with  him  at  the  time,  are 
both  inclined  to  be  Southern,  and  would  be  so  grateful  for  any  kindness  shown 
to  General  Stoughton.  When  you  write  to  Cousin  E.,  ask  him,  if  he  cornea 
to  Richmond,  which  he  very  often  does,  to  go  and  see  him,  and  do  any  thing 
for  him  he  can.  If  you  can't  get  any  one  else,  please  write  to  John  Hunter, 
and  beg  him  to  go  at  once,  and  do  what  he  can.  1  highly  approve  of  hia 
being  kept  behind  a  bolt  and  bar.  But  please,  Aunt  Joe,  attend  to  it  at  once, 
and  ask  Colonel  Leftrich  if  he  will  not  write  to  some  friend.  You  know,  at 
least  Ina  told  you  in  her  last  letter,  that  after  you  left,  General  Stoughton 
went  to  Mrs.  G.  L.'s  and  got  Charley's  valise  for  me;  and  he  has  always  been 
§o  remarkably  kind  to  me,  that  I  am  very  anxious,  in  some  way,  to  repay  it. 

Yours,  &c.,  FANNIE. 

One  of  the  most  strangely  romantic  female  histories  of  the 
war,  which  came  within  the  investigations  of  the  bureau, 
was  that  of  Miss  A  J. 

Statements  have  been  already  made  concerning  female 
visitors  to  the  army.  Much  of  the  information  communi 
cated  to  the  rebels  was  given  by  these  irresponsible  charac 
ters  passing  through  rebel  and  Union  lines.  The  condition 
of  morals  among  officers  who  found  congenial  companionship 
in  the  society  of  such  women,  is  apparent,  and  needs  no 
coloring  from  pen  or  pencil. 

This  unfortunate  and  degraded  young  woman  was  arrest 
ed,  while  attempting  to  pass  the  Confederate  pickets,  within 
three  days  after  giving  her  solemn  parole  not  to  cross  the 
Potomac  into  Virginia  during  the  rebellion.  Upon  the  ear 
nest  request  of  the  Governor  and  a  distinguished  Senator  of 
Massachusetts,  she  was  again  released  from  conJinement,  on 
parole  ;  after  which  she  made  the  subjoined  confession  : — 

STATEMENT   OF  MISS   A.   J. 

My  name  is  A.  J.  I  was  born  in  Cambridge,  Massachusetts.  Am  twenty 
years  of  age.  I  have  neither  father  or  mother  living.  I  have  two  sisters.  In. 
August,  18G1,  I  left  my  home  at  Cambridge,  without  the  knowledge  or  con 
sent  of  my  uncle,  sisters,  or  friends,  and  came  direct  to  Washington,  with  the 
intention  of -offering  my  services  as  a  hospital-nurse,  which  was  refused,  on 
account  of  my  age.  I  then  procured  a  pass  from  General  Wool  to  visit  the 
different  camps  in  and  about  Baltimore.  I  had  no  particular  object  or  busi 
ness  in  the  army,  but  went  out  of  mere  curiosity.  I  spent  some  months  in 
this  way.  While  in  the  various  camps,  I  was  furnished  by  the  commanding 
Dflicers  with  a  tent,  and  sometimes  occupied  quarters  with  the  officers.  In 
the  fall  of  1862  I  went  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  with  no  different  object 


240  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

in  view ;  spent  some  time  at  General  S.'s  headquarters  at  Fairfax  Court- 
House.  Daring  this  time  was  the  guest  of  the  General  and  his  staff  officers. 
After  General  S.  left  Fairfax  Court  House  I  went  to  CentrevilJe.  I  do  not 
now  recollect  who  was  in  command  at  the  time.  I  remained  at  Centreville 
but  a  short  time,  then  went  to  Falls  Church,  from  there  to  Fairfax  Court 
House.  In  June  or  July  last  I  attempted  to  pass  the  Federal  pickets,  for  the 
purpose  of  visiting  Drainesville,  then  outside  our  lines;  was  arrested,  and 
taken  to  General  S.'s  headquarters,  and  by  him  sent  to  General  M.,  who  at 
once  released  me,  and  sent  me  back  to  General  S.'s  headquarters,  where  I 
remained  until  the  army  returned  from  Maryland.  General  S.  was  then 
relieved,  when  1  joined  General  K.'s  command,  and  went  to  the  front,  as  the 
friends  and  companions  of  General  C.  We  made  our  headquarters  near  Hart- 
wood  Church.  Stopping  at  this  point,  General  K.  became  very  jealous  of 
General  C.'s  attentions  to  me,  and  went  to  General  M.'s  headquarters  and 
charged  me  with  being  a  rebel  spy.  I  was  then  arrested  and  sent  to  General 
M.,  Military  Governor  of  Washington,  who  committed  me  to  the  Old  Capitol 
Prison.  I  have  spent  two  years  and  a  half  in  the  Union  army,  and  during 
this  time  have  been  the  guest  of  different  officers,  they  furnishing  me  with 
horses,  orderlies,  escorts,  sentinels  at  my  tent,  or  quarter  rations,  &c.  I  have 
invariably  received  passes  from  these  officers,  to  go  and  return  when  and 
where  I  pleased.  During  the  time  that  I  was  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
I  invariably  wore  major  straps.  I  have  repeatedly  passed  the  outside  pickets 
of  the  Federal  army,  several  miles  beyond,  into  the  rebel  lines;  and  was  once 
captured  by  Moseby  and  taken  to  Aldie.  to  the  house  of  a  Mrs.  Yankes  Davis, 
whose  husband  is  a  Federal  scout  or  spy.  I  was  detained  one  or  two  days, 
then  allowed  to  return.  I  further  state,  that  during  no  part  of  the  time  that 
I  was  with  the  Federal  army  was  I  employed  as  guide,  scout,  spy,  or  hospital- 
nurse,  but,  as  stated  before,  a  companion  to  the  various  commanding  officers. 
as  a  private  friend  or  companion.  On  the  7th  day  of  November,  1863,  I  was 
released  from  the  Old  Capitol  Prison,  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 
During  the  time  of  my  confinement  I  became  intimately  acquainted  with 
Captain  M.,  Mr.  J.  S.  L.,  the  superintendent,  clerks,  and  others.  On  my 
release  Mr.  L.  advised  me  to  go  to  the  house  of  a  Mrs.  McC.,  where  I  was  at 
the  time  of  rny  arrest.  In  consequence  of  Mr.  L.'s  intimacy  with  me,  during 
my  imprisonment,  Mr.  W.  discharged  him.  I  then  went  to  Colonel  J.  A.  IL, 
at  the  War  Department,  and  informed  him  that  L.  had  been  discharged,  and 
the  reason.  Colonel  H.  then  directed  that  L.  should  be  assigned  to  duty  at 
General  A.'s  headquarters,  on  condition  that  I  would  leave  the  city  and 
return  to  my  home  at  Cambridge.  I  did  go  to  Boston,  as  I  promised,  and 
Mr.  L.  obtained  his  situation  at  General  A.'s  headquarters.  I  remained  away 
about  three  weeks,  when  I  returned  to  Mrs.  McCVs  house. 

On  my  discharge  from  prison,  I  signed  a  parole,  one  of  the  conditions  of 
which  was  "that  I  should  not  enter  the  State  of  Virginia"  without  proper 
permission,  during  the  rebellion;  but,  notwithstanding  this  obligation,  I  have 
made  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  do  so.  In  reference  to  my  present  arrest, 
I  desire  to  state  that  I  informed  Mr.  G.  R.  that  1  had  procured  a  pass,  in  con 
nection  witli  Major  W.,  of  the  Treasury  Department,  and  Mrs.  Moxen,  that  on 


A   WOMAN    ANT)   THE   FRENCH   SECRET   SERVICE.         241 

Saturday  afternoon  last  I  proceeded  in  a  carriage,  with  the  two  persons 
referred  to,  viz..  Mr.  W.  and  Mrs.  M.,  to  the  Aqueduct  Bridge,  where  we 
were  halted  by  the  guard,  who  informed  us  that  Mr.  W.  and  Mrs.  M.  could  go 
on,  but  that  Miss  J.  could  not;  that  I  then  returned  to  Mrs.  McC.'s.  I  also 
informed  Mr.  R.  that  said  pass  was  procured  for  me  through  the  influence  of 
a  brigadier-general  (not  naming  him).  I  also  informed  others,  at  Mrs.  McC.'s, 
that  I  made  the  attempt  to  cross,  but  was  turned  back  by  the  guard.  During 
the  entire  time  since  my  leaving  home,  in  1861,  I  have  led  a  very  roving,  and, 
may  be,  questionable  life.  I  am  now  very  unwell,  owing  to  my  long  confine 
ment  and  other  causes,  and  desire  to  be  released  from  custody,  in  order  that 
I  may  return  to  my  home  and  friends ;  and,  if  released,  I  pledge  myself  not 
to  return  to  Washington  during  the  present  rebellion. 

The  proper  officer  certified  as  follows : — 

City  of  Washington,  District  of  Columbia: 

Personally  appeared  before  me  A.  J.,  who,  being  by  me  duly  sworn,  on 
her  oath  said  that  she  had  read  the  foregoing  statement,  and  that  she  knew 
the  contents  thereof;  that  all  the  statements  therein  contained  are  true,  to 
the  best  of  her  knowledge.  That  said  statement  is  made  without  fear  or  com 
pulsion,  or  promise  of  reward,  but  freely  on  her  part. 

The  great  detective,  Vidocq,  quoted  in  the  first  part  of  this 
volume,  has  an  instance  both  of  woman's  crafty  management, 
and  his  own,  particularly  interesting  in  this  connection  : — 

It  is  very  rare  that  a  fugitive  galley-slave  escapes  with  any  intention  of 
amendment;  most  frequently  the  aim  is  to  gain  the  capital,  and  then  put  in 
practice  the  vicious  lessons  acquired  at  the  Bagnes,  which,  like  most  of  our 
prisons,  are  schools  in  which  they  perfect  themselves  in  the  art  of  appro 
priating  to  themselves  the  property  of  another.  Nearly  all  celebrated  robbers 
only  became  expert  after  passing  some  time  at  the  galleys.  Some  have 
undergone  five  or  six  sentences  before  they  became  thorough  scoundrels; 
such  as  the  famous  Victor  Desbois,  and  his  comrade,  Mongenet,  called  Le 
Tambour  (Drummer),  who,  during  various  visits  to  Paris,  committed  a  vast 
many  of  those  robberies  on  which  people  love  to  descant  as  proofs  of  boldness 
and  address. 

These  two  men,  who,  for  many  years,  were  sent  away  with  every  chain, 
and  as  frequently  escaped,  were  once  more  back  again  in  Paris;  the  police 
got  information  of  it,  and  I  received  the  orders  to  search  for  them.  All  testi 
fied  that  they  had  acquaintances  with  other  robbers  no  less  formidable  than 
themselves.  A  music  mistress,  whose  son,  called  Noel  with  the  Spectacles,  a 
celebrated  robber,  was  suspected  of  harboring  these  thieves.  Madame  Noel 
was  a  well-educated  woman,  and  an  admirable  musician  ;  she  was  esteemed  a 
most  accomplished  performer  by  the  middle  class  of  tradespeople,  who 
employed  her  to  give  lessons  to  their  daughters.  She  was  well  known  in  the 
Marias  and  the  Quartier  Saint  Denis,  where  the  polish  of  her  manners  the 
16 


242  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

elegance  of  her  language,  the  gentility  of  her  dress,  and  that  .ndescr  bat»i* 
air  of  superiority,  which  the  reverses  of  fortune  can  never  entirely  destroy, 
gave  rise  to  the  current  belief  that  she  was  a  member  of  one  of  those  numerous 
families  to  whom  the  Revolution  had  only  left  its  hauteur  and  its  regrets. 

To  those  who  heard  and  saw  her,  without  being  acquainted,  Nfadarne  Noel 
was  a  most  interesting  little  woman ;  and  besides,  there  was  something  touch 
ing  in  her  situation ;  it  was  a  mystery,  and  no  one  knew  what  had  become  of 
her  husband.  Some  said  that  she  had  been  early  left  in  a  state  of  widow 
hood  ;  others,  that  she  had  been  forsaken ;  and  a  third  affirmed  that  she  was 
a  victim  of  seduction.  I  know  not  which  of  these  conjectures  approaches 
nearest  the  truth,  but  I  know  very  well  that  Madame  Noel  was  a  liitle  bru- 
neite,  whose  sparkling  eye  and  roguish  look  were  softened  down  by  that 
gentle  demeanor,  which  seemed  to  increase  the  sweetness  of  her  smile,  and 
the  tone  of  her  voice,  which  was  in  the  highest  degree  musical.  There  waw  a 
mixture  of  the  angel  and  demon  in  her  face,  but  the  latter  perhaps  prepon 
derated  ;  for  time  had  developed  those  traits  which  characterize  evil  thoughts. 

Madame  Noel  was  obliging  and  good,  but  only  toward  those  individuals 
who  were  at  issue  with  justice;  she  received  them  as  the  mother  of  a  soldier 
would  welcome  the  comrade  of  her  son.  To  insure  a  welcome  with  her,  it 
was  enough  to  belong  to  the  same  "  regiment"  as  Noel  with  the  Spectacles; 
and  then,  as  much  for  love  of  him,  and  from  inclination,  perhaps,  she.  would 
do  all  in  her  power  to  aid,  and  was  constantly  looked  upon  as  a  "mother  of 
robbers."  At  her  house,  they  found  shelter;  it  was  she  who  provided  for  all 
their  wants.  She  carried  her  complaisance  so  far  as  to  seek  "jobs  of  work" 
for  them ;  and  when  a  passport  was  indispensably  requisite  for  their  safety, 
she  was  not  quiet  until,  by  some  means,  she  had  succeeded  in  procuring  one. 
Madame  Noel  had  many  friends  among  her  own  sex,  and  it  was  generally  in 
one  of  their  names  that  the  passport  was  obtained.  A  powerful  mixture  of 
oxygenated  muriatic  acid  obliterated  the  writing,  and  the  description  of  the 
gentleman  who  required  it,  as  well  as  the  name  which  it  suited  his  purpose 
to  assume,  replaced  the  feminine  description.  Madame  Noel  had  generally 
by  her  a  supply  of  these  accommodating  passports,  which  were  tilled  accord 
ing  to  circumstances,  and  the  wants  of  the  party  requiring  such  assistance. 

All  the  galley-slaves  were  children  of  Madame  Noel,  but  those  were  the 
most  in  favor  who  could  give  her  any  account  of  her  son;  for  them  her  devo 
tion  was  boundless.  Her  house  was  open  to  all  fugitives,  who  made  it  their 
rendezvous ;  and  there  must  be  gratitude  even  among  them,  for  tire  police 
were  informed  that  they  came  frequently  to  Mother  Noel's,  for  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  her  only ;  she  was  the  confidante  of  all  their  plans,  all  their  adven 
tures,  all  their  fears;  in  fact,  they  communicated  all  unreservedly,  and  never 
had  cause  to  regret  their  reliance  on  her  fidelity. 

Mother  Noel  had  never  seen  me ;  my  features  were  quite  unknown  to  her, 
although  she  had  frequently  heard  of  my  name.  There  was,  then,  no  diffi 
culty  in  presenting  myself  before  her,  wi.thout  giving  her  any  cause  for  alarm; 
but  to  get  her  to  point  out  to  me  the  hiding-place  of  the  men  whom  I  sough 
to  detect,  was  the  end  I  aimed  at,  and  I  felt  that  it  would  be  impossible  to 
attain  it  without  much  skill  and  management. 


MADAME  NOEL  AND    VTDOCQ.  243 

At  first,  I  resolved  on  passing  myseif  off  as  a  fugitive  galley-slave ;  but  it 
was  necessary  to  borrow  the  name  of  some  thief,  whom  her  son  or  his  com 
rades  Lad  mentioned  to  her  in  advantageous  terms.  Moreover,  a  little  resem 
blance  was  positively  requisite,  and  I  endeavored  to  recollect  if  there  were  not 
one  of  the  galley-slaves  whom  I  knew  had  been  associated  with  Noel  with  the 
Spectacles,  and  I  could  not  remember  one  of  my  age,  or  win  we  person  and 
features  at  all  resembled  mine.  At  last,  by  dint  of  much  effort  of  memory, 
I  recalled  to  mind  one  Germain,  alias  "the  Captain,"  who  had  been  an  inti 
mate  acquaintance  of  Noel's,  and  although  our  similarity  was  very  slight,  yet 
I  determined  on  personating  him.  Germain,  as  well  as  myself,  had  often 
escaped  from  the  Bagnes,  and  that  was  the  only  point  of  resemblance  between 
us.  He  was  about  my  age,  but  a  smaller  framed  man ;  he  had  dark-brown 
hair,  mine  was  light;  he  was  thin,  and  I  tolerably  stout;  his  complexion  waa 
sallow,  and  mine  fair,  with  a  very  clear  skin  ;  besides,  Germain  had  an  exces 
sively  long  nose,  took  a  vast  deal  of  snuff,  which,  begriming  his  nostrils  out 
side,  and  stuffing  them  up  within,  gave  him  a  peculiarly  nasal  tone  of  voice. 
I  had  much  to  do  in  personating  Germain ;  but  the  difficulty  did  not  deter 
me.  My  hair,  cut  d  la  mode  des  fiagnes,  was  dyed  black,  as  well  as  my  beard, 
after  it  had  attained  a  growth  of  eight  days;  to  embrown  my  countenance,  I 
washed  it  with  white  walnut  liquor;  and  to  perfect  the  imitation,  I  garnished 
my  upper  lip  thickly  with  a  kind  of  coffee-grounds,  which  I  plastered  on  by 
means  of  gum  arabic,  and  thus  became  as  nasal  in  my  twang  as  Germain 
himself.  My  feet  were  doctored  with  equal  care ;  I  made  blisters  on  them  by 
rubbing  in  a  certain  composition,  of  which  I  had  obtained  the  receipt  at 
Brest.  I  also  made  the  marks  of  the  fetters ;  and  when  all  my  toilet  was 
finished,  dressed  myself  in  the  suitable  garb.  I  had  neglected  nothing  which 
could  complete  the  metamorphosis — neither  the  shoes  nor  the  marks  of  those 
horrid  letters  GAL.  The  costume  was  perfect ;  and  the  only  thing  wanting 
was  a  hundred  of  those  companionable  insects  which  people  the  solitudes  of 
poverty,  and  which  were,  I  believe,  together  with  locusts  and  toads,  one  of 
the  seven  plagues  of  old  Egypt.  I  procured  some  for  money;  and  as  soon  as 
they  were  a  little  accustomed  to  their  new  domicile,  which  was  speedily  the 
case,  I  directed  my  steps  towar  1  the  residence  of  Madame  Noel,  in  the  Rue 
Ticquetonne. 

I  arrived  there,  and  knocking  at  the  door,  she  opened  it:  a  glance  con 
vincing  her  how  matters  stood  with  me,  she  desired  me  to  enter,  and  on 
finding  myself  alone  with  her,  I  told  her  who  I  was.  "Ah,  my  poor  lad/' 
•he  cried,  "there  is.no  occasion  to  tell  me  where  you  have  come  from;  I  am 
sure  you  must  be  dying  with  hunger!11 

"Oh,  yes,"  I  answered,  ul  am  indeed  hungry;  I  have  tasted  nothing  for 
twenty-four  hours." 

Instantly,  without  further  question,  she  went  out,  and  returned  with  a 
dish  of  hog's  puddings  and  a  bottle  of  wine,  which  she  placed  before  rne.  I 
did  not  eat,  I  actually  devoured ;  I  stuffed  myself,  and  all  had  disappeared 
without  my  saying  a  word  between  my  first  mouthful  and  my  last.  Mother 
Noel  was  delighted  at  my  appetite,  and  when  the  cloth  was  removed  she  gave 
me  a  drain.  "  Ah,  mother,"  I  exclaimed,  embracing  her,  "  you  restore  me  to 


244  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

life;  Noel  told  me  how  good  and  kind  you  were:"  and  I  then  began  to  givo 
her  a  statement  of  how  X  had  left  her  son  eighteen  days  before,  and  gave  her 
information  of  all  the  prisoners  in  whom  she  felt  interested.  The  details 
were  so  true  and  well  known,  that  she  could  have  no  idea  that  I  was  an  im 
postor. 

"  You  must  have  heard  of  me,"  I  continued;  "  I  have  gone  through  many 
an  enterprise,  and  experienced  many  a  reverse.  I  am  called  Germain,  or  the 
captain;  you  must  know  my  name." 

"Yes,  yes,  my  friend,"  she  said,  "I  know  you  well;  my  son  and  his 
friends  have  told  me  of  your  misfortunes;  welcome,  welcome,  my  dear  cap 
tain.  But  heavens!  what  a  state  you  are  in:  you  must  not  remain  in  such  a 
plight.  I  see  you  are  infested  with  those  wretched  tormenting  beasts  who 
;  but  I  will  get  you  a  change  of  linen,  and  contrive  something  as  a  com 
fortable  dress  for  you." 

I  expressed  my  gratitude  to  Madame  Noel;  and  when  I  saw  a  good 
opportunity,  without  giving  cause  for  the  slightest  suspicion,  I  asked  what 
had  become  of  Victor  Desbois  and  his  comrade  Mongenet.  "Desbois  and 
Le  Tambour?  Ah!  my  dear,  do  not  mention  them,  I  beg  of  you,"  she 
replied;  "that  rogue  Vidocq  has  given  them  very  great  uneasiness;  since 
one  Joseph  (Joseph  Longueville,  an  old  police  inspector),  whom  they  have 
twice  met  in  the  streets,  told  them  that  there  would  soon  be  a  search  in  this 
quarter,  they  have  been  compelled  to  cut  and  run,  to  avoid  being  taken." 

"What,"  cried  I  with  a  disappointed  air,  "are  they  no  longer  in  Paris?" 

"Oh,  they  are  not  very  far  distant,"  replied  Mother  Noel;  "they  have 
not  quitted  the  environs  of  the  'great  village'  (Paris):  I  dare  say  we  shall 
soon  see  them,  for  I  trust  they  will  speedily  pay  me  a  visit.  I  think  they  will 
be  delighted  to  find  you  here." 

"  Oh,  I  assure  you,"  said  I  "  that  they  will  not  be  more  delighted  at  the 
meeting  than  myself;  and  if  you  can  write  to  them,  I  am  sure  they  would 
eagerly  send  for  me  to  join  them." 

"If  I  knew  where  they  were,"  replied  Mother  Noel,  "I  would  go  myself 
and  seek  for  them  to  please  you ;  but  I  do  not  know  their  retreat,  and  the 
best  thing  for  us  to  do  is  to  be  patient  and  await  their  arrival." 

In  my  quality  of  a  new-comer,  I  excited  all  Madame  Noel's  compassion 
and  solicitude,  and  she  attended  to  nothing  but  me.  "Are  you  known  to 
Vidocq  and  his  two  bull-dogs,  Levesque  and  Compere?"  she  inquired. 

"Alas!  yes,"  was  my  reply;  "they  have  caught  me  twice." 

"In  that  case,  then,  be  on  your  guard:  Vidocq  is  often  disguised;  he 
assumes  characters,  costumes,  and  shapes,  to  get  hold  of  unfortunates  like 
yourself." 

We  conversed  together  for  two  hours,  when  Madame  Noel  offered  me  a 
foot-bath,  which  I  accepted ;  and  when  it  was  prepared,  I  took  off  my  shoes 
and  stockings,  on  which  she  discovered  my  wounded  feet,  and  said,  with  a 
most  commiserating  tone  and  manner,  "How  I  pity  you;  what  must  you 
Buffer!  Why  did  you  not  tell  me  of  this  at  first?  you  deserve  to  be  scolded 
tor  it."  And  whilst  thus  reproaching  me,  she  examined  my  feet;  and  then 
pricking  the  blisters,  drew  a  piece  of  worsted  through  eac'i,  and  anointed  my 


FRENCH   SECRET   SERVICE.  245 

feet  with  a  salve,  which  she  assured  me  would  have  the  effect  of  speedily 
curing  them. 

The  bath  concluded,  she  brought  me  some  clean  linen ;  and,  as  she  thought 
of  all  that  was  needful,  added  a  razor,  recommending  me  to  shave.  "I  shall 
then  see,"  she  added,  "about  buying  you  some  workman's  clothes,  as  that  is 
the  best  disguise  for  men  who  wish  to  pass  unnoticed  ;  and  besides,  good  luck 
will  turn  up,  and  then  you  will  get  yourself  some  new  ones." 

As  soon  as  I  was  thoroughly  cleansed  Mother  N*>el  conducted  me  to  a 
sleeping-room,  a  small  apartment,  which  served  as  die  workshop  for  false 
keys,  the  entrance  to  which  was  concealed  by  several  gowns  hanging  from  a 
row  of  pegs.  "Here,"  said  she,  "is  a  bed  in  which  your  friends  have  slept 
/three  or  four  times ;  and  you  need  not  fear  that  the  police  will  hunt  you  out ; 
you  may  sleep  secure  as  a  dormouse." 

"I  am  really  in  want  of  sleep,"  I  replied,  and  begged  her  permission  to 
take  some  repose,  on  which  she  left  me  to  myself.  Three  hours  afterward  I 
awoke,  and  on  getting  up  we  renewed  our  conference.  It  was  necessary  to 
be  armed  at  all  points  to  deceive  Madame  Noel ;  there  was  not  a  trick  or  cus 
tom  of  the  Bagnes  with  which  she  was  not  thoroughly  informed;  she  knew 
not  only  the  names  of  all  the  robbers  whom  she  had  seen,  but  was  acquainted 
with  every  particular  of  the ,  life  of  a  great  many  others ;  and  related  with 
enthusiasm  anecdotes  of  the  most  noted,  particularly  of  her  son,  for  whom 
she  had  as  much  veneration  as  love. 

"The  dear  boy,  you  would  be  delighted  to  see  himl"  said  I. 

"Yes,  yes,  overjoyed." 

"  Well,  it  is  a  happiness  you  will  soon  enjoy ;  for  Noel  has  made  arrange 
ments  for  an  escape,  and  is  now  only  awaiting  the  propitious  moment." 

Madame  Noel  was  happy  in  the  expectation  of  seeing  her  son,  and  shed 
tears  of  tenderness  at  the  very  thoughts  of  it. 

In  the  course  of  conversation,  Mother  Noel  asked  me  if  I  had  any  affair 
(plan  of  robbery)  in  contemplation ;  and  after  having  offered  to  procure  me 
one,  in  case  I  was  not  provided,  she  questioned  me  on  my  skill  in  fabricating 
keys.  I  told  her  I  was  as  adroit  as  Fossard. 

"If  that  be  the  case,"  she  rejoined,  "I  am  easy,  and  you  shall  be  soon 
furnished ;  for  as  you  are  so  clever,  I  will  go  and  buy  at  the  ironmonger's  a 
key  which  you  can  fit  to  my  safety  lock,  so  that  you  will  have  ingress  and 
egress  whenever  you  require  it." 

I  expressed  my  feelings  of  obligation  for  so  great  a  proof  of  her  kindness ; 
and  as  it  was  growing  late,  I  went  to  bed  reflecting  on  the  mode  of  getting 
away  from  this  lair  without  running  the  risk  of  being  assassinated,  if  per 
chance  any  of  the  villains  whom  I  was  seeking  should  arrive  before  I  had 
taken  the  necessary  precautions. 

I  did  not  sleep,  and  arose  as  soon  as  I  heard  Madame  Noel  lighting  her  fire ; 
she  said  I  was  an  early  riser,  and  that  she  would  go  and  procure  me  what  I 
wanted.  A  moment  afterward  she  brought  me  a  key  not  cut  into  wards,  and 
gave  me  files  and  a  small  vice,  which  I  fixed  on  my  bed;  arid  as  soon  as  my 
tools  were  in  readiness,  I  began  my  work  in  presence  of  my  hostess,  who,  see 
ing  that  I  was  perfectly  conversant  with  the  business  complimented  me  oo 


246  UNITED  STATES   SECRET   SERVICE 

my  ski/l ;  and  what  she  most  admired  was  the  expedition  of  mv  work;  for  in 
fact,  in  less  than  fou-  hours,  I  had  perfected  a  most  workmanlike  key,  which 
I  tried,  and  it  fitted  nost  accurately.  A  few  touches  of  the  file  completed 
the  instrument;  and  like  the  rest,  I  had  the  means  of  unobstructed  entrance 
whenever  I  wished  t  >  visit  the  house. 

I  was  Madame  Noel's  hoarder;  and,  after  dinner,  I  told  her  I  was  inclined 
to  take  a  turn  in  the  dusk,  that  I  might  find  whether  "a  job"  I  contemplated 
was  yet  feasible,  and  she  approved  the  suggestion,  at  the  same  time  recom 
mending  me  to  use  all  caution.  "That  thief  of  a  Vidocq,"  she  observed,  "i» 
a  thorn  in  one's  path  ;  mind  him ;  and,  if  I  were  you,  before  I  made  any 
attempts,  I  would  wait  until  my  feet  were  well." 

"I  shall  not  go  far,"  I  replied;  unor  stay  away  long."  This  assurance  of 
a  speedy  return  seemed  to  quiet  her  fears. 

"  Well,  then,  go,"  she  said;  and  I  went  out  limping. 

So  far  all  succeeded  to  my  most  sanguine  wishes ;  it  was  impossible  to 
stand  better  with  Mother  Noel;  but,  by  remaining  in  her  house,  who  would 
guarantee  that  I  should  not  be  knocked  on  the  head?  Might  not-  two  or  three 
galley-slaves  arrive  together,  recognize  me,  and  attack  me  ?  Then  farewell  to 
all  my  plottings;  and  it  was  incumbent,  that,  without  losing  the  fruit  of  my 
friendship  with  Mother  Noel,  I  should  prepare  myself  for  the  contingent 
danger.  It  would  have  been  the  height  of  imprudence  to  have  given  her 
cause  to  think  that  I  had  any  motives  for  avoiding  contact  with  her  guests, 
and  I  consequently  endeavored  so  to  lead  her  on,  that  she  should  herself  sug 
gest  to  me  the  necessity  of  quitting  her  house;  that  is,  that  she  should  advise 
me  no  longer  to  think  of  sleeping  in  her  domicile. 

I  had  observed  that  Madame  Noel  was  very  intimate  with  a  fruitseller  who 
lived  in  the  house;  and  I  sent  to  this  woman  one  of  my  agents  named  Man- 
ceau,  whom  I  charged  to  ask  her  secretly,  and  yet  with  a  want  of  skill,  for 
some  accounts  of  Madame  Noel.  I  had  dictated  the  questions,  and  was  the 
more  certain  that  the  fruit-woman  would  not  fail  to  communicate  the  particu 
lars,  as  I  had  desired  my  man  to  beg  her  to  observe  secrecy. 

The  event  proved  that  I  was  not  deceived;  no  sooner  had  my  agent  ful 
filled  his  mission,  than  the  fruit-woman  hastened  to  Madame  Noel  with  an 
account  of  what  had  passed ;  who,  in  her  turn,  lost  no  time  in  telling  me. 
On  the  look-out  at  the  steps  of  the  door  of  her  officious  neighbor,  as  soon  as 
she  saw  me,  she  came  to  me,  and,  without  further  preface,  desired  me  to  fol 
low  her.  which  I  did;  and  on  reaching  the  Place  des  Victoires,  she  stopped, 
and  looking  about  her  to  be  assured  that  no  one  was  in  hearing,  she  told  me 
what  had  passed.  "So,"  said  she,  in  conclusion,  "you  see,  my  poor  Germain, 
that  it  would  not  be  prudent  for  you  to  sleep  at  my  house ;  you  must  even  be 
cautious  how  you  approach  it  by  day." 

Mother  Noel  had  no  idea  that  this  circumstance,  which  she  bewailed  so 
greatly,  was  of  my  own  planning  ;  and,  that  I  might  remove  all  suspicion 
from  her  mind,  I  pretended  to  be  more  vexed  at  it  than  she  was,  and  cursed 
and  swore  bitterly  at  that  blackguard  Vidocq,  who  would  not  leave  us  at 
peace.  I  depreca'-ed  the  necessity  to  which  I  was  reduced,  of  finding  a  shelter 


FRENCH  SECRET  SERVICE.  247 

ont  of  Fan's  and  took  leave  of  Madame  Noel,  who,  wishing  me  good  luck  and 
a  speedy  return,  put  a  thirty-sous  piece  into  my  hand. 

I  knew  that  Deshois  and  Mongenet  were  expected  ;  and  I  was  also  aware 
that  there  wore  comers  and  goers  who  visited  the  house,  whether  Madame* 
Noel  was  there  or  not;  and  she  was  often  absent,  giving  music-lessons  in  the 
city.  It  was  important  that!  should  know  these  gentry;  and  to  achieve  this. 
I  disguised  several  of  my  auxiliaries,  and  stationed  them  at  the  corners  of  the 
street,  where,  mixing  with  the  errand-boys  and  messengers,  their  presence 
excited  no  suspicion. 

These  precautions  taken,  that  I  might  testify  all  due  appearance  of  fear,  I 
allowed  two  days  to  pass  before  I  again  visited  Madame  Noel;  and  this 
period  having  elapsed,  I  went  one  evening  to  her  house,  accompanied  by  a 
young  man,  whom  I  introduced  as  the  brother  of  a  female  with  whom  I  had 
onoe  lived  :  and  who,  having  met  me  accidentally  in  Paris,  had  given  me  an 
asylum.  This  young  man  was  a  secret  agent,  but  I  took  care  to  tell  Mother 
Noel  that  he  had  my  fullest  confidence,  and  that  she  might  consider  him  as 
my  second  self;  and  as  lie  was  not  known  to  the  spies,  I  had  chosen  him  to 
be  my  messenger  to  her  whenever  I  did  not  judge  it  prudent  to  show  myself 
"Henceforward,"  I  added,  "he  will  be  our  go-between,  and  will  come  ever) 
two  or  three  days,  that  I  may  have  information  of  you  and  your  friends." 

"P  faith,"  said  Mother  Noel,  "you  have  lost  a  pleasure;  for  twenty  minute* 
•roner,  and  you  would  have  seen  a  lady  of  your  acquaintance  here." 

"An!  who  was  it?" 

"  Mongeriet's  sister." 

"Oh!  indeed;  she  has  often  seen  me  with  her  brother." 

"Yes;  when  I  mentioned  you,  she  described  you  as  exactly  as  possible:  — 
*a  lanky  chap,'  said  she,  '  with  his  nose  always  grimed  with  snuff.' " 

Madame  Noel  deeply  regretted  that  I  had  not  arrived  before  Mongenet'g 
sister  had  departed ;  but  certainly  not  so  much  as  I  rejoiced  at  my  narrow 
escape  from  an  interview  which  would  have  destroyed  all  my  projects;  for  if 
this  woman  knew  Germain,  she  also  knew  Vidocq;  and  it  was  impossible  that 
she  could  have  mistaken  one  for  the  other,  so  great  was  the  difference  between 
us!  Although  I  had  altered  my  features  so  as  to  deceive,  yet  the  resemblance 
which,  in  description,  seemed  exact,  would  not  stand  the  test  of  a  critical 
examination,  and  particularly  the  reminiscences  of  intimacy.  Mother  Noel 
then  gave  me  a  very  useful  warning,  when  she  informed  me  that  Mongenet'i 
sister  was  a  very  frequent  visitor  at  her  house.  From  thenceforward  I  resolved 
»hat  this  female  should  never  catch  a  glimpse  of  my  countenance;  and  to 
avoid  meeting  with  her,  whenever  I  visited  Madame  Noel,  I  sent  my  pretended 
brother-in-law  first,  who,  when  she  was  not  there,  had  instructions  to  let  ma 
know  it  by  sticking  a  wafer  on  the  window.  At  this  signal  I  entered,  and 
my  aid-de-camp  betook  himself  to  his  post  in  the  neighborhood,  to  guard 
against  any  disagreeable  surprise.  Not  very  far  distant  were  other  auxiliaries, 
to  whom  I  had  confided  Mother  Noel's  key,  that  they  might  come  to  my  suc 
cor  in  case  of  danger ;  for,  from  one  instant  to  another,  I  might  fall  suddenly 
among  a  gang  of  fugitives,  or  some  of  the  galley-slaves  might  recognize  and 
attack  me,  and  then  a  blow  of  my  fist  against  a  square  of  glass  in  the  window 


248  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE.    ' 

was  the  signal  which  was  to  denote  my  need  of  assistance,  to  equalize  tho  con 
tending  parties. 

Thus  were  my  schemes  concerted,  and  the  finale  was  at  hand.  It  was  on 
Tuesday,  and  a  letter  from  the  men  I  was  in  quest  of,  announced  their  intended 
arrival  OE  the  Friday  following;  a  day  which  I  intended  should  be  for  them  a 
hlack  Friday.  At  the  first  dawn  I  betook  myself  to  wine-vaults  in  the 
vicinity;  and,  that  they  might  have  no  motive  for  watching  me,  supposing,  as 
was  their  custom,  that  they  should  traverse  the  street  several  times  up  and 
down  before  they  entered  Madame  Noel's  domicile,  I  first  sent  my  pretended 
brother-in-law,  who  returned  soon  afterward,  and  told  me  that  Mongenet's 
sister  was  not  there,  and  that  I  might  safely  enter. 

u  You  are  not  deceiving  me?"  said  I  to  my  agent,  whose  tone  appeared 
altered  and  embarrassed,  and  fixing  on  him  one  of  those  looks  which  pene- 
^trated  the  very  heart's  core,  I  thought  I  observed  one  of  those  ill-suppressed 
contractions  of  the  muscles  of  the  face  which  accompany  a  premeditated  lie  ; 
and  then,  quick  as  lightning,  the  thought  came  over  me  that  I  was  betrayed — 
that  my  agent  was  a  traitor.  We  were  in  a  private  room,  and,' without  a 
moment's  hesitation,  I  grasped  his  throat  with  violence,  and  told  him,  in 
presence  of  his  comrades,  that  I  was  informed  of  his  perfidy,  and  that  if  he 
did  not  instantly  confess  all,  T  would  shoot  him  on  the  spot.  Dismayed  at  my 
penetration  and  determined  manner,  he  stammered  out  a  few  words  of  excuse, 
and,  falling  on  his  knees,  confessed  that  he  had  discovered  all  to  Mother 
Noel. 

This  baseness,  had  I  not  thus  detected  it,  would  probably  have  cost  me  my 
life,  but  I  did  not  think  of  any  personal  resentment;  it  was  only  the  interest 
of  society  which  I  cared  for,  and  which  I  regretted  to  see  wrecked  when  so 
near  port.  The  traitor,  Manceau,  was  put  in  confinement,  and,  young  as  he 
was,  having  many  old  offenses  to  expiate,  was  sent  to  Bicetre,  and  then  to 
the  Isle  of  Oleron,  where  he  terminated  his  career.  It  may  be  conjectured 
that  the  fugitives  did  not  return  to  the  Rue  Ticquetonne;  but  they  were,  not 
withstanding,  apprehended  a  short  time  afterward. 

Mother  Noel  did  not  forgive  the  trick  I  had  played  her;  and,  to  satisfy  her 
revenge,  she,  one  day,  had  all  her  goods  taken  away ;  and  when  this  had  beer- 
effected,  went  out  without  closing  her  door,  and  returned,  crying  out  that  she 
had  been  robbed.  The  neighbors  were  made  witnesses,  a  declaration  was 
made  before  a  commissary,  and  Mother  Noel  pointed  me  out  as  the  thief; 
because,  she  said,  I  had  a  key  of  her  apartments.  The  accusation  was  a  grave 
one,  and  she  was  instantly  sent  to  the  prefecture  of  police,  and  the  next  day  I 
received  the  information.  My  justification  was  not  difficult,  for  the  prefet,  as 
well  as  M.  Henry,  saw  through  the  imposture;  and  we  managed  so  well,  that 
Mother  Noel's  property  was  discovered,  proof  was  obtained  of  the  falsity  of 
the  charge,  and,  to  give  her  time  for  repentance,  she  was  sentenced  for  six 
months  to  St.  Lazarre.  Such  were  the  issue  and  the  consequences  of  an 
enterprise,  in  which  I  had  not  failed  to  use  all  precaution ;  and  I  have  often 
achieved  success  in  affairs,  in  which  arrangements  had  been  made,  not  §o 
skillfully  concerted  or  so  ably  executed. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE    BOUNTY    JUMPERS. 

Fraudulent  Practices  of  Bounty  Brokers  and  Jumpers — Contrast  between  Engliih 
and  American  Deserters — Plans  to  check  Desertion,  and  bring  Criminals  to 
Justice. 

» 

THE  great  demand  for  recruits  during  the  war,  the  large 
bounties  offered  for  them,  and  the  manifold  facilities  for 
fraudulent  transactions,  presented  temptations  of  great 
power,  even  to  reputable  citizens,  to  evade  the  plain  letter 
of  the  law,  and  traffic  in  substitutes,  or,  by  bribery  and 
deception,  personally  to  keep  out  of  the  hands  of  the  recruit 
ing  officer. 

The  majority  of  the  officers  assigned  to  recruiting  service 
were  guilty  of  great  dereliction  of  duty,  inasmuch  as,  instead 
of  endeavoring  to  check  the  growing  evil,  they  rather  pre 
tended  ignorance,  or  allowed  it  to  pass  unnoticed. 

On  one  occasion,  being  in  the  presence  of  the  President 
and  a  member  of  the  Cabinet,  I  heard  the  latter  congratulate 
the  President  upon  the  success  attending  a  certain  call  for 
troops,  which  he  had  issued,  remarking  : — 

"Mr.  Lincoln,  if  recruiting  goes  forward  in  this  way, 
your  new  call  for  troops  will  soon  be  answered." 

The  President  made  this  reply : — 

"Oh,  yes;  we  have  a  pretty  big  army  already — on 
paper ;  but  what  we  want  is,  men  in  boots  and  breeches. 
This  great  array  of  figures,  in  respect  to  soldiers,  is  not 
going  to  suppress  the  rebellion.  I  want  men,  who  can 
carry  muskets,  and  eat  hard-tack.' 

It  was  indeed  surprising  to  observe  the  apparent  sin 
cerity  of  persons,  who,  in  various  ways,  were  guilty  of 
unlawful  and  dishonorable  acts,  finding  a  sufficient  apology 
in  the  necessities  or  peculiarities  of  the  case ;  while  others, 
and  not  a  few,  went  into  the  remunerative  dishonesty  with 


250  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

the  simple  purpose,  in  common  with  the  professional  gam 
bler,  to  make  money  out  of  the  Government,  or  individuals 
serving  it,  according  to  the  promised  reward.  And  yet  it  is 
difficult  to  see  how  any  man,  of  ordinary  moral  perceptions, 
could  fail  to  appreciate  the  criminality  of  the  business, 
whether  viewed  from  the  stand-point  of  the  army  depletion 
and  peril,  or  the  robbery  of  the  public  treasury.  Were 
the  loose  principles  governing  bounty  brokers  and  jumpers 
once  allowed,  the  ranks  of  no  army  could  be  kept  full,  and 
the  loyalty  of  the  people  could,  not  be  maintained. 

The  lenity  of  our  military  authorities,  in  regard  to  the 
punishment  of  offenders  against  law  and  loyalty,  was  a 
fruitful  cause  of  the  boldness  with  which  they  acted,  and 
the  air  of  respectability  worn  by  the  crime  itself. 

At  this  point,  I  must  refer  to  the  suggestive  contrast 
between  foreign  armies  and  our  own.  Deserters  from  the 
English  troops  are  rare,  on  account  of  the  penalty  which  is 
inflicted  on  such  offenders.  This  penalty,  which  is  death, 
is  never  set  aside,  no  matter  what  extenuating  circumstances 
may  attach  to  the  desertion,  rendering  it  a  lesser  crime  in 
the  opinion  of  mankind.  The  English  military  law  is  arbi 
trary,  carrying  out  its  requirements  to  the  utmost  ;  and, 
as  the  punishment  for  desertion  is  death,  no  soldier  guilty 
of  the  crime  receives  any  lighter  doom. 

During  the  late  war,  the  execution  of  deserters  was  so 
rare,  that  no  moral  effect  was  produced  on  the  minds  of  the 
people.  Who  can  recollect  any  shadow  of  guilt  and  pun 
ishment  falling  upon  his  thought,  during  the  whole  of  the 
war,  on  account  of  the  deserter's  fate  ? 

The  desertions  were  as  common  as  recruiting,  but  escapes 
were  so  frequent,  and  pardon  was  so  often  granted,  that  no 
importance  seemed  to  be  attached  to  the  shameful  disloyalty. 
Indeed,  it  was  rather  considered  in  the  light  of  a  legitimate 
business  than  otherwise  ;  the  idea  of  its  criminality  hardly 
seemed  to  be  entertained  by  any,  so  lightly  was  it  treated 
by  the  law. 

The  Department  at  Washington  was  constantly  urging 
upon  me  the  necessity  for  forming  some  plan,  which,  in  a 
summary  and  successful  manner,  would  frustrate  the  designs 
of  these  dishonest  parties,  and  bring  them  to  justice.  Se v 


DESERTERS  AND  DESERTION.  251 

eral  attempts  had  been  made  for  this  purpose,  "bat  had  all 
proved  unsuccessful. 

A  number  of  plans  were  submitted  to  me,  each  of  which 
I  considered  objectionable,  on  certain  accounts.  The  short 
est  way  to  catch  these  deserters,  which  was  tracking  them 
to  their  haunts,  it  would  have  been  folly  to  pursue,  as  such 
a  course  would  result  in  a  general  alarm  and  stampede  of  the 
guilty. 

After  some  time,  I  chanced  to  think  of  a  method,  which 
seemed  so  suited  to  the  purpose,  that  I  became  immediately 
inspired  with  the  hope  of  success.  I  reported  it  to  the 
Provost-Marshal  General,  and,  after  examination,  it  was 
accepted,  with  some  slight  modifications. 

In  January,  1865,  the  War  Department  determined  to 
check,  if  possible,  the  increasing  frauds.  On  investigation, 
it  was  found  that  only  one  in  four  of  the  enlisted  men 
reached  the  front — a  fact  which  will  doubtless  astonish  my 
reader,  and  probably  be  denied  by  him,  unless  accompanied 
by  the  most  positive  proof. 

I  received  my  instructions,  and  immediately  repaired  to 
New  York,  the  great  rendezvous  of  gamblers  in  recruiting, 
and  the  centre  of  their  complicated  and  increasing  business. 
Two  or  three  days  devoted  to  inquiries  concerning  them,  so 
astounded,  discouraged,  and  disheartened  me,  that  I  resolved 
to  abandon  the  investigation,  and  return  to  Washington. 
When  I  reported  my  purpose  to  the  War  Department,  I 
was  directed  to  resume  and  prosecute  my  work.  This 
investigation,  including  my  action  and  that  of  the  Provost- 
Marshal-General,  has  been  the  occasion  of  Congressional 
and  civil  examinations,  and  therefore  demands  a  pretty  full 
and  clear  narrative. 

The  means  which  I  employed,  and  the  manner  of  pro 
ceeding,  may  seen),  to  superficial  observers,  to  have  been 
extraordinary,  arid  wholly  unwarranted. 

All  the  usual  methods  of  procedure  in  detective  service 
were  quite  unavailing  in  this  large  undertaking.  Nearly  the 
entire  circle  of  military  and  civil  officers  were  found  to  be, 
either  directly  or  indirectly,  implicated  in  bounty  swindling 
—from  the  staff  officer  to  the  orderly,  and  from  the  judge 
to  the  lowest  criminal  in  the  haunts  of  dissipation  and  vice. 


252  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

I  considered  the  matter  well,  in  order  to  reach  some 
plan  by  which  I  could  become  familiar  with  the  fraudulent 
enterprise  and  learn  its  secrets.  The  result  of  my  medita 
tions  was  the  belief  that,  in  order  to  gain  my  ends,  I  must 
select  for  my  service  some  bounty  broker  who  had  been 
connected  with  the  business  a  considerable  length  of  time, 
and  who  was,  consequently,  familiar  with  all  its  details. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  BOUNTY  JUMPERS  AND  BROKERS. 

Quotas  filled  with  Falsified  Enlistment-Papers — Arrest  of  Brokers — Amusing  and 
Exciting  Scone — The  Hoboken  Raid — Slanderous  Charges — Large  Number  of 
Arrests — Incarceration  in  Fort  Lafayette— Other  Arrests — Trial  before  a  Mili 
tary  Commission. 

IT  is,  doubtless,  a  matter  of  surprise  that  forged  enlisting- 
papers  could  have  been  so  readily  manufactured  and  profit 
ably  used.  One  of  the  leading  brokers  arrested  was  a  notary 
public.  Aided  by  the  clerks  at  the  recruiting-office,  the 
necessary  blanks  were  obtained.  These  were  written  out 
with  fictitious  names,  properly  certified  by  the  notary  pub 
lic.  Each  set  of  the  papers  represented  an  enlisted  man,  and 
was  ready  for  sale  in  the  market,  to  any  unsuspecting  agent 
from  the  country  having  a  quota  to  fill.  There  were  whole 
towns  in  the  interior  of  the  Empire  State  filled  with  these 
fraudulent  credits.  In  many  instances  the  same  false  enlist 
ments  were  credited  in  different  Congressional  districts.  The 
matter  will  be  more  fully  comprehended  by  a  reference  to 
my  official  report. 

I  took  up  my  headquarters  at  the  Astor  House,  and  let 
the  brokers  know  that  I  was  an  agent  or  supervisor  for  the 
interior  of  the  State,  having  several  large  quotas  to  fill.  I 
was  at  once  besieged  by  applications  to  purchase  credits. 
The  third  day  I  purchased  sixteen  sets  of  these  enlistment- 
papers  ;  and  on  the  fourth,  twenty -two,  when  a  proposition , 
was  made  by  a  broker  to  purchase  forged  papers,  saying, 
those  I  had  were  such,  and  would  answer  the  same  purpose  ; 
that  so  skillfully  were  they  prepared  detection  was  impos 
sible.  The  offer  was  accepted,  and  placed  me  on  the  most 
friendly  terms  with  my  associates  in  business.  For  a  num 
ber  of  days  I  continued  the  purchase  of  spurious  papers  for 
less  than  half  the  price  of  the  genuine  documents.  This 


254  (JOTTED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

feature  of  the  swindling  came  near  causing  a  quarrel  among 
the  brokers  ;  some  of  them  insisting  that  I  should  not  have 
been  informed  that  I  bought  forged  papers,  because  I  might 
then  have  paid  full  price.  The  other  party  contended,  that 
by  committing  me  to  the  forgery  I  was  secured  against 
betrayal  of  the  cause.  The  former  further  claimed,  that 
forged  papers  were  worth  as  much  to  me  as  the  genuine. 
These  negotiations  were  carried  on  four  days,  when  I  deci 
ded  to  arrest  the  whole  company.  It  will  be  understood, 
that  the  arrest  of  a  single  broker  in  the  city  would  create  an 
alarm,  and  end  the  investigation.  The  greatest  strategy  and 
concealment  were  therefore  indispensable  to  success.  The 
knowledge  of  my  presence  in  the  metropolis  would  have 
defeated  my  plans.  On  a  certain  day  I  requested  nine  bro 
kers,  with  whom  I  had  business,  to  come  to  my  room  at  the 
same  hour,  bringing  their  papers.  I  had  concealed,  in  an 
adjoining  room,  a  number  of  my  assistants.  I  instructed 
them  that  the  signal  I  should  use  to  bring  them  to  my  aid, 
would  be  a  knock  on  the  door  of  the  apartment  in  which 
they  were  placed. 

The  illustrious  nine  stood  around  me,  forged  papers  in 
hand,  eagerly  waiting  for  the  checks  which  would  bring  the 
reward  of  their  villainy.  To  fasten  the  guilt  upon  the  crimi 
nals,  beyond  dispute,  I  had  written  receipts  for  the  money 
to  be  paid  each  broker.  As  they  walked  up  in  line,  and 
made  their  marks,  for  most  of  them  could  not  write,  I 
stepped  to  the  folding-doors  and  gave  the  signal.  Instantly 
a  detective  came  in,  and  I  said  to  my  broker-friends  :  "  Gen 
tlemen,  this  joke  has  gone  far  enough  ;  you  are  my  prisoners. 
I  am  General  Baker,  the  Chief  of  the  Detective  Bureau." 

It  would  be  futile  for  tongue  or  pen  to  attempt  to  describe 
the  effect  of  my  words  upon  the  assemblage  before  me.  The 
change  that  passed  over  it  was  very  marked,  and  to  me,  who 
was  the  cause  of  it,  irresistibly  entertaining.  The  explosion 
of  a  bomb-shell  in  the  battle-ranks  could  not  have  startled 
and  dismayed  the  soldiery  more  suddenly  than  this  unex 
pected  exposure  of  their  crimes,  and  the  powerful  grasp 
of  justice,  did -the  discomfited  brokers,  who  had  anticipated 
a  very  different  fate. 

Here,  a  dapper  little  fellow,  in  flashy  dress  and  jewelry 


A   FIGHTER— CONFESSIONS— -SLANDERS.  257 

changed  color,  looked  ghastly,  and  reeled  to  the  sofa. 
There,  a  burly,  red-faced  fighter  put  on  a  defiant  air,  arid, 
with  an  oath,  said:  "I  would  like  to  see  you  arrest  me." 
A  display  of  my  six-shooter  cooled  him  off  wonderfully,  and 
he  stood  like  a  living  firebrand,  ready  to  go  into  a  self-con 
suming  flame.  Another  burst  into  tears,  and  pleaded  that 
he  was  seduced  into  the  crime  by  artful  men.  A  few  more 
resolved  to  make  a  joke  of  the  whole  matter,  and  laugh  off 
the  scare.  I  transferred  the  interesting  company  to  an 
apartment  in  the  Astor  House,  their  prison  for  the  time. 
Two  or  three  of  them  made  written  confessions,  which  re 
vealed  in  detail  the  criminality  of  their  companions,  and  of 
many  others. 

The  notorious  Hoboken  raid  upon  bounty  brokers  and 
bounty  jumpers,  which  has  been  the  subject  of  a  great  deal 
of  newspaper  comment  and  censure,  was  never  clearly 
understood.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  the  affair  was  original 
and  peculiar  in  its  character,  but  it  was  called  for  by  the 
unusual  and  manifold  expedients  resorted  to  by  the  dishon 
est  harpies  preying  upon  the  Government. 

The  late  civil  war  possessed  so  many  extraordinary  fea 
tures,  that  means  were  employed  to  meet  them  which, 
although  unknown  before,  were  justified  by  the  emergen 
cies  ;  and  on  becoming  possessed  of  the  facts,  as  they  really 
were,  of  the  Hoboken  transaction,  every  reasonable  person, 
I  am  confident,  will  vindicate  the  action  of  the  bureau,  and 
especially  my  own  position  in  the  service. 

The  emissaries  of  the  South,  and  loyal  persons  prejudiced 
against  me  personally,  charged  me  with  a  financial  connec 
tion  and  interest,  and  consequently  represented  me  as  a 
sharer  in  substantial  pecuniary  profits.  These  slanderous 
intimations,  however,  are  wholly  without  foundation.  The 
careful  Congressional  investigation,  and  several  civil  suits 
that  were  instituted,  failed  to  bring  a  particle  of  reliable 
evidence  to  sustain  them. 

Men  can  believe  what  they  please,  still  there  is  a  wide 
difference  between  mere  opinion  and  conviction  following 
upon  positive  testimony.  Upon  receiving  the  latter,  no 
person  has  an  honest  right  to  condemn  my  motives  and 
conduct. 

17 


258  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

The  official  correspondence,  and  orders  connected  with 
the  opening  of  a  recruiting  rendezvous  at  Hoboken,  are  given 
in  my  report  to  the  Provost-Marshal  General. 

With  the  assistance  of  the  bounty  brokers  referred  to 
therein,  I  enlisted  as  many  bounty  jumpers  as  possible,  with 
the  understanding  that  no  others  were  to  be  taken.  March 
10th,  it  was  given  out  among  the  brokers  that  a  "walk 
away"  had  been  opened  in  Hoboken.  This  novel  place  was 
understood  to  be  for  the  escape  of  enlisted  men  who  could 
safely  walk  away. 

Perhaps  a  more  ludicrous  trap  in  detective  policy  was 
never  laid  than  that  which  now  secured  the  swindlers. 
Appreciating  the  desperate  character  of  the  men  I  was 
preparing  to  deal  with,  I  had  a  body  of  soldiers  sta 
tioned  in  the  hall,  over  the  recruiting  headquarters.  To 
avoid  all  disclosure  of  the  plot,  it  was  arranged  that  no 
bounty  jumper  should  leave  or  communicate  with  those  out 
side.  Every  man  enlisted  was  taken  to  the  hall  above  ;  and 
here  it  is  proper  to  state  that  each  company  of  jumpers  had 
its  agent. 

If  none  of  those  enlisted  were  known  to  have  escaped,  it 
would  naturally  awaken  suspicion  in  the  minds  of  their  out 
side  friends  that  something  was  wrong;  that  the  "walk 
away"  was  not  genuine.  Any  uncertainty  on  this  point 
would  prove  fatal  to  the  scheme  of  detection. 

Recruiting  commenced  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning, 
and  continued  briskly  until  two  or  three  o'  clock  in  the  after 
noon,  when  the  discovery  was  made,  that  not  a  single  jumper 
who  had  entered  the  hall  an  enlisted  soldier  had  been  seen 
afterward.  I  had  anticipated  this  difficulty,  and,  anxious  to 
keep  the  plot  secret  as  long  as  possible,  to  increase  the  num 
ber  of  jumpers,  I  directed  those  assisting  me  to  put  a  mark 
upon  the  back  of  each  of  the  brokers  engaged  in  furnishing 
recruits.  This  was  done  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  unno 
ticed  by  the  brokers  themselves,  but  perfectly  understood 
by  me.  I  then  directed  my  men  to  station  themselves  at  the 
ferry,  in  New  York,  and  arrest  the  brokers,  which  could  be 
done  with  no  difficulty,  as  the  white  signs  of  guilt  marked 
upon  their  shoulders  would  instantly  betray  them. 

As  I  had  anticipated,  m«  brokers  became  uneasy  respect- 


THE  HOBOKEN  BROKERS.  259 

Ing  the  fate  of  those  already  enlisted,  and,  one  after 
another,  left  the  rendezvous,  and  took  the  boat  for  the 
metropolis. 

When  they  reached  the  gate  of  the  ferry,  the  chalk- 
marks  revealed  the  criminals,  and  their  arrest  immediately 
followed,  until  eighteen  of  the  brokers  and  one  hundred 
and  eighty  of  the  jumpers  were  caught. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  imagine  the  scene  in  the  Odd 
Fellows'  Hall  of  Hoboken,  on  the  afternoon  of  that  day  of 
arrest.  Formed  in  a  ring  were  many  hundred  soldiers, 
armed  for  any  emergency ;  within  it,  seated  on  benches, 
were  nearly  two  hundred  prisoners.  With  the  dawning 
of  the  truth  upon  the  minds  of  the  wondering  crowd  of 
arrested  men,  a  sudden  and  amusing  change  went  over  the 
faces  of  all.  They  had  been  especially  careful  to  avoid  me, 
and  now,  awakened  from  a  dream  of  security  to  find  them 
selves  in  my  toils  !  Some  looked  blank  with  amazement 
and  despair ;  others  had  an  expression  of  demoniac  hate ; 
while  a  portion  of  the  arrested  seemed  strongly  inclined  to 
treat  their  imprisonment  jocosely,  and  regard  it  as  a  trivial 
affair.  They  were  caught  in  the  net  set  by  hands  most 
dreaded  and  carefully  avoided. 

L  could  scarcely  conceal  an  expression  of  mischievous 
merriment,  which,  notwithstanding  my  efforts  to  the  con 
trary,  was  apparent  at  the  singular  scene  presented  by  the 
mixed  assembly. 

The  soldiers  looked  quietly  on,  while  the  dandy  apparel 
and  gaudy  jewelry  of  the  swindling  fraternity  presented  a 
mocking  and  cruel  contrast  to  their  anxious  and  crestfallen 
countenances. 

The  facts  were  communicated  to  the  Provost-Marshal 
General,  with  the  request  to  be  informed  what  to  do  with 
them.  After  a  delay  of  nearly  a  day  and  a  half,  the  Secre 
tary  of  War  ordered  them  to  be  removed  to  Fort  Lafayette. 
Their  incarceration  for  weeks,  with  no  disposal  of  their  case, 
was  a  topic  of  severe  animadversion,  and  the  responsibility 
laid  at  my  door  ;  a  responsibility  no  more  my  own  than  any 
other  act  of  the  War  Department  through  my  official  relation 
to  it. 

T  repeatedly  called  the  attention  of  the  Department  to 


2(>0  UNITED   STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

these  prisoners,  urging  that  they  should  be  tried  as  deserters, 
and  punished  accordingly. 

The  only  reason  which  can  be  given  for  the  delay,  and 
which,  to  many  patriotic  persons,  will  be  a  sufficient  one, 
was  the  excitement  and  rejoicing  attending  the  fall  of  Rich 
mond  and  the  surrender  of  General  Lee,  which  occurred  at 
this  particular  time,  absorbing  the  attention  of  all  parties. 

Although  overlooked  for  a  while,  they  were  by  no  means 
designedly  neglected. 

The  final  disposal  of  the  brokers  arrested,  and  those 
engaged  in  frauds  upon  the  Government,  was  equally  an 
affair  entirely  outside  of  my  official  authority. 

My  arrests,  independent  of  the  brokers  and  jumpers  at 
Hoboken,  were  about  forty- six  persons,  in  every  case  of 
which  a  written  order  was  received  from  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  and,  by  his  direction,  they  were  committed 
to  the  Old  Capitol  prison. 

I  was  requested  to  furnish,  and  did  so,  a  written  synopsis, 
or  memorandum,  in  respect  to  each  individual  arrested. 
These  statements  were  submitted  to  the  Hon.  L.  E.  C.,  and 
Judge  B.,  of  New  York,  two  of  the  most  eminent  jurists  in 
the  country. 

A  military  commission  was  convened  at  Washington. 
by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  for  the  trial  of  these 
prisoners.  The  ones  first  arrested  were  first  tried.  The 
great  array  of  counsel  for  the  defendants,  and  the  number 
of  Avitnesses  produced  by  both  parties,  made  the  investiga 
tions  extended  and  wearisome.  But,  notwithstanding  the 
precautions  taken  by  the  prisoners,  and  the  large  number  of 
counsel  which  they  employed,  they  were  all  convicted,  as 
will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  records  of  the  Bureau  of 
Military  Justice.  The  Department  exacted  from  me  the 
most  persistent  activity  in  the  prosecution  of  these  cases. 

Not  governed  by  motives  of  revenge,  or  personal  feeling, 
it  was  the  simple  aim  to  render  justice  to  the  guilty,  and 
carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  Government. 

In  the  midst  of  the  trials,  and  immediately  succeeding 
the  conviction  of  about  a  dozen  of  the  prisoners,  the  rebel 
lion  suddenly  collapsed.  Great  changes  in  popular  senti 
ment,  and  policy  of  the  Government,  awakened  the  desire, 


THE   PROCLAMATION   OF   AMNESTY.  261 

which  soon  found  expression,  for  the  restoration  of  civil 
courts.  Fully  sympathizing  with  this  natural  longing,  I 
sent  a  written  request  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  that  all 
prisoners  in  my  custody  might  be  transferred  to  the  proper 
authorities. 

If  they  were  regarded  as  legitimate  recruits,  the  order 
discontinuing  further  enlistments,  and  discharge  of  all  en 
listed  men  held  in  barracks  and  rendezvous,  would  apply 
to  these  bounty  jumpers.  They  could  not  be  tried  for 
desertion,  because  the  President's  proclamation  of  amnesty, 
which  applied  to  deserters,  would  reach  their  case  also.  In 
any  view  that  may  be  taken  of  the  incarceration  of  the  pris 
oners,  complaints  against  me  for  the  fact  fall  to  tit  e  ground  ; 
I  was  not,  and  could  not  be,  responsible  for  it,  ander  the 
circumstances,  which  need  only  to  be  known  tc  make  the 
assertion  of  innocence  clear. 


CHA  PTER    XXL 

BOUNTY    JUMPING    INCIDENTS. 


Personal  Experience  in  Bounty  Jumping — A  Perfect  Trump — Detectives  Enlisted- 
Passes  obtained  for  Bounty  Jumpers — Arrest  and  Surprise — Court-Martial  and 
Conviction. 

lr  has  been  sufficiently  demonstrated,  by  incidents  re 
corded,  that  monstrous  frauds  were  perpetrated  by  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  enlistment  papers. 

Indeed,  it  is  very  evident,  from  knowledge  .thus  far 
obtained,  that  not  a  small  proportion  of  all  such  documents, 
on  which  credits  were  given,  were  forged. 

I  shall  only  add  to  the  record  a  few  incidents,  which 
combine  in  their  character  both  the  comic  and  tragic  quali 
ties. 

I  had  been  told  that  soldiers  would  receive  the  bounty, 
re-enlist  the  same  day,  be  sent  to  the  Island,  and  repeat  the 
process  the  day  following.  I  was,  at  the  time,  skeptical 
respecting  such  facility  in  deception  and  incredible  assu 
rance,  and  to  satisfy  myself  in  regard  to  the  truth  of  the 
matter,  I  dressed  myself  in  the  garb  of  a  regular  jumper  and 
repaired,  February  9th,  to  a  recruiting  office  in  the  public 
square  near  the  Astor  House,  New  York.  Assuming  the 
air  of  a  veteran  in  the  business,  I  asked  the  officer  what  he 
was  paying  for  recruits. 

Before  the  question  could  be  answered,  the  gentlemanly 
broker,  always  at  hand,  inquired  of  me  my  name  arid  place 
of  residence,  which  I  gave  him.  In  a  low  tone  of  voice,  and 
with  a  knowing  wink,  he  said:  "Have  you  been  through 
before  in  New  York  ?"  I  answered  :  "  Not  since  last  fall." 
He  added:  "All  right;  come  inside."  And  in  less  time 
than  it  has  taken  to  relate  the  incident,  I  was  one  of  "Uncle 
Sanr  s  boys. ' ' 


A   DRIXK,  AND    WHAT    FOLLOWED. 

My  friend  gave  me  one  hundred  dollars,  promising  the 
remainder  due  me  when  I  should  arrive  at  the  Island  ;  then 
directing  me  to  remain  where  I  was  for  a  while,  he  left  me. 

Returning  within  an  hour,  he  opened  the  following  con- 
versation  with  me :  "Have  you  ever  been  on  the. Island?" 
I  teplied,  "Yes."  Evidently  enlightened  in  regard  to  the 
ijjatter,  he  immediately  remarked:  "You  know  how  to  get 
off;' then?  When  you  do,  come  up  to  Tammany  Hall,  and  I 
will  put  you  through  up  town:"  meaning,  of  course,  he 
iwoulcl  enlist  me  again.  While  this  conversation  was  pass 
ing  between  us  another  broker  stepped  up,  and  said  :  "  Gen 
tlemen,  let  us*  take  a  drink."  We  accepted  the  invitation, 
and  they  conducted  me  across  the  Park  to  a  saloon,  where  I 
saw,  at  a  glance,  they  were  quite  at  home.  Liquor  was 
called  for,  and  while  the  vender  was  getting  it,  one  of  the 
brokers  quietly  stepped  behind  the  bar  and  addressed  some 
conversation  to  him. 

We  then  all  drank  to  the  success  of  the  Union,  or  rather, 
all  of  us  appeared  to  do  so. 

I  raised  the  glass  to  my  lips,  and,  unobserved  by  the  rest, 
poured  its  contents  into  my  bosom,  as  I  had  done  many  times 
before  when  compelled  to  join  the  convivial  ring.  I  was 
convinced  that  my  potation  had  been  drugged.  Next  fol 
lowed  a  proposition  to  repair  to  an  adjoining  room  and 
engage  in  a  game  of  cards. 

We  played  until  I  thought  it  necessary  to  affect  drowsi 
ness,  and  insensibility.  My  eyes  began  to  close,  until  at 
length  my  head  rested  on  the  table  in  front  of  me,  and  my 
whole  appearance  indicated  to  my  betrayers  my  entire  help 
lessness  in  their  hands. 

At  this  juncture  one  of  them  left  the  room,  but  soon 
returning,  exclaimed,  "All  right."  Immediately  I  caught 
the  sound  of  carriage  wheels,  and,  as  I  anticipated,  was  car 
ried  to  the  door,  and,  supported  by  broker  number  one, 
lifted  into  a  vehicle,  and  driven  rapidly  to  the  Cedar  Street 
rendezvous.  My  hat  was  then  unceremoniously  pushed 
over  my  face,  and  I  was  hurried  into  the  presence  of  the 
recruiting  officer  in  attendance,  who  asked  me,  "Do  you 
wish  to  enlist  ?"  Number  two  answered,  in  a  tone  to  repre 
sent  my  own  voice,  "  Ye-e-s." 


264  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

1  was  again  declared  to  be  one  of  the  volunteers,  taken 
into  another  room,  and  laid  on  a  bench,  where  I  remained 
an  hour,  in  company  with  three  other  recruits,  who  had  been 
drugged  in  the  same  manner,  my  friends  the  brokers  sup 
posing  they  had  disposed  of  me. 

In  the  mean  time  broker  number  one  returned,  and  said  : 
1  i  Well,  old  fellow,  how  do  you  feel?"  to  which  I  replied, 
"Very  sick."  Then  remarking,  " You'  11  be  all  right  by- 
and-by,"  he  left  me. 

I  looked  about  me  to  judge  of  the  possibility  of  escape. 
I  saw  at  once  that  I  could  not  pass  out  by  the  door,  as  a  sen 
try  was  stationed  there,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  that  I 
would  have  to  try  my  chances  at  a  window. 

I  opened  one  which  overlooked  a  back  yard,  sprang  out, 
and  after  walking  through  a  long  passage-way,  which  led 
me  into  the  open  street,  I  went  deliberately  to  my  room  in 
the  Astor  House. 

Here  I  masked  my  face,  disguised  myself  anew,  and  pro 
ceeded  directly  to  the  office  of  Mr.  Blunt,  where  I  offered 
myself  to  the  army  service,  to  make  my  third  enlistment  for 
that  day. 

I  was  hardly  seated,  when  broker  number  three  a]> 
proached  me,  saying : 

"You  want  to  enlist,  do  you ?" 

"  Yes,  I  am  thinking  of  it.  What  are  you  paying  re 
cruits  now  ?" 

' '  Six  hundred  dollars.     Where  are  you  from  f ' 

"  Steuben  County.  I  would  like  to  enlist  if  I  could  get 
a  situation  as  clerk.  I  can  write  a  pretty  good  hand,  and 
a-m  hardly  able  to  go  into  the  ranks." 

He  replied  quickly,  "  Oh,  I  can  fix  all  that  right." 

A  conversation  then  followed  between  him  and  the  re 
cruiting  officer,  when  I  was  made  a  soldier  of  the  Union 
army  once  more.  I  was  requested  to  be  seated  for  a  few 
moments.  Soon  after  the  broker  asked  me  to  take  "a 
glass."  I  went  with  him  to  an  old  drinking-saloon  in 
Cherry  Street,  where  I  found  brokers  numbers  one  and  two, 
who  immediately  recognized  me,  but  expressed  no  surprise 
at  the  meeting.  My  successful  escape  from  the  Cedar  Street 


BOUNTY   JUMPERS'  EXPLOITS. 

headquarters  convinced  my  friends  that  I  was  an  old  expert 
in  the  tricks  of  the  trade. 

Their  admiration  for  me  became  so  great  that  they  re 
ceived  me  into  full  fellowship,  regarded  me  as  a  shrewd 
member  of  the  bounty  jumping  brotherhood,  and,  after 
freely  discussing  their  plans  and  prospects,  declared  me  to 
be  a  "perfect  trump."  Propositions  were  made  to  enter 
into  partnership  at  once. 

I  was  greatly  amused  while  listening  to  the  exploits  of 
each,  as  he  in  turn  detailed  them.  One  related,  that  at  a 
certain  period  he  left  New  York,  and  having  enlisted  at 
Albany,  Troy,  Utica,  Buffalo,  and  Chicago,  returned  ma 
Elmira,  at  which  place  he  likewise  enlisted.  Another  had 
enlisted  at  every  rendezvous  from  New  York  to  Portland, 
Maine ;  while  a  third  boasted  of  the  amounts  he  had  re 
ceived,  and  mentioned  those  paid  to  recruiting  officers,  sur 
geons,  brokers,  and  detectives.  The  den  in  which  I  spent 
the  evening  was  a  favorite  haunt  of  the  bounty  jumpers.  It 
contained  a  wardrobe  of  wearing  apparel,  consisting  of  both 
soldiers'  and  citizens'  outfits.  The  idea  of  this  I  easily  com 
prehended  ;  here  the  jumpers  could  assume  whatever  dress 
they  pleased,  to  carry  out  their  designs.  Three  times  that 
night,  before  two  o'clock,  I  saw  the  interesting  operation 
performed. 

I  selected  one  of  my  assistants  to  experiment  in  this  mili 
tary  lottery.     He  dressed  himself  in  the  appropriate  apparel, 
and  in  one  day  enlisted  three  times ;   he  was  sent  to  the 
Island,  bought  himself  off,  and  reported  for  duty  the  follow 
ing  day. 

The  scenes  described  were  followed  by  numberless  ar 
rests  of  bounty  brokers,  bounty  jumpers,  and  others  in  the 
business,  and  consequently  by  the  disclosures  of  their  crimes, 
which  have  since  attracted  much  public  attention. 

To  illustrate  the  secrecy  with  which  I  necessarily  pur 
sued  my  inquiries,  I  mention  the  following  incident :  I  had 
received  intelligence  of  a  notorious  bounty  broker,  doing 
business  on  State  Street,  whose  specialty  seemed  to  be  to 
secure,  for  a  consideration,  desertion  and  escape  after  enlist 
ment.  Rumor  also  said  that,  at  any  time,  he  had  the  power 
to  obtain  an  enlisted  man  from  Governor' s  Island.  Extremely 


266  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

desirous  to  test  his  proficiency  in  such  swindling,  I  enlist 
ed  two  of  my  own  detectives,  and  had  them  sent  to  the 
Island.  I  then  directed  another  to  apply  to  the  broker  for 
his  interposition  in  their  behalf.  He  consented,  on  the  con 
dition  that  he  should  receive  two  hundred  dollars  for  his 
trouble.  The  amount  was  paid  him  ;  and  my  assistant,  be 
ing  curious  to  know  in  what  manner  he  would  obtain  the 
release  of  the  two  detectives,  begged  leave  to  accompany 
him  to  the  Island. 

Upon  their  landing,  he  observed  that  the  broker  was  on 
excellent  terms  with  the  officers  of  different  grades  who  had 
the  recruits  in  charge. 

Two  sergeants,  being  consulted,  furnished  a  pass  to  the 
desired  recruits,  signed  in  the  name  of  the  provost-general 
of  the  Island,  requiring  their  return  at  roll-call  the  same 
evening.  For  this  pass  the  sergeant  received  fifty  dollars. 
Sergeant  number  two,  at  the  end  of  the  wharf,  whose  duty 
it  was  to  examine  the  passes,  being  in  collusion  ivith  the 
other,  shared  the  profits.  The  detective,  and  his  associates 
who  had  been  recruited,  had  no  difficulty  in  leaving  the 
Island. 

I  made  arrangements  for  the  arrest  of  the  whole  party  on 
their  landing  in  New  York.  When  brought  to  my  head 
quarters,  the  broker  confessed  the  crime,  seeing  no  possible 
means  of  escape,  and  embarrassed  with  surprise  and  terror. 

His  arrest  was  kept  secret  for  several  days.  The  ser 
geants,  his  companions  in  guilt,  missing  him,  became  un 
easy,  and  suspicious  that  he  had  been  murdered,  and  his 
body  thrown  into  the  river.  The  following  Sunday  they 
applied  at  the  office  of  the  City  Police  for  assistance  in  dis 
covering  the  missing  man,  having  been  informed  before 
hand,  by  the  boy  in  the  broker's  office,  that  he  had  not 
been  seen  since  he  left  with  the  stranger  to  go  to  the  Island. 

The  Metropolitan  detectives  declined  to  give  any  assist 
ance,  and  sent  them  to  me,  as  the  persdn  most  .likely  to  be  of 
use  to  them  in  solving  the  mysterious  fate  of  their  friend 

Accordingly,  on  Sunday  evening,  the  sergeants  came  to 
my  office  and  excitedly  told  their  story,  dwelling  on  the  fact 
that  the  broker  was  last  seen  on  Wednesday,  upon  the 
Island,  in  company  with  a  suspicious-looking  stranger;  tlut 


A  DISAGREEABLE  SURPRISE.  267 

he  bad  a  large  amount  of  money  ;  and  they  gave  five  hundred 
dollars  for  information  respecting  him. 

After  a  lengthy  conversation,  I  told  them  I  tnonght  1 
could  find  their  friend.  I  ordered  an  officer  to  bring  in  the 
broker.  There  was,  of  course,  a  mutual  recognition,  and  the 
sergeants  were  overjoyed  that  the  lost  man  was  found  and 
alive,  until  they  learned  that  not  only  the  broker  was  under 
arrest,  but  that  they  also  were  in  the  hands  of  the  law. 

The  scene  was  a  rich  and  rare  one.  The  glad  surprise  of 
the  sergeants  was  soon  toned  down  by  the  mysterious  grav 
ity  of  their  friend-  and  also  my  own.  I  then  took  out  a  pair 
of  handcuffs,  ami  said  to  the  young  men,  "I  am  very  glad 
you  have  saved  me  the  trouble  of  sending  for  you,  as  I 
intended  to  do  to-morrow." 

The  broker  was  sent  to  the  penitentiary,  and  the  ser 
geants  were  tried  by  court-martial  #nd  convicted. 

These  statements  will  probably  appear  exaggerated  to 
many  readers,  but  they  are  strictly  true,  and  will  be  found 
OD  official  records. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

( 

BOUNTY  JUMPERS    IN   ORGANIZED    BANDS. 

Gi^xf-like  Bounty  Jumpers — Wholesale  Bounty  Jumping  carried  on  adroitly  by  • 
Gang  of  Operators — Opposition  from  a  Canadian  Gang — Thirty-two  Thousand 
Dollars  in  as  many  Days — Frauds  in  Drafting — An  Old  Man  put  in  as  a  Sub 
stitute — A  Boy  decoyed — His  Adventures — A  Mother  of  Thirteen  Children — 
Unavailing  Efforts  of  a  Mother  in  Search  of  her  Idiotic  Son. 

1  SHALL  next  relate  the  movements  of  these  speculators 
in  organized  gangs.  They  had  a  leader,  whom  they  selected 
chiefly  for  his  insinuating  and  plausible  manner  of  address, 
and  with  whom  they  acted  in  the  capacity  of  Gipsies,  wan 
dering  from  one  promising  field  of  action  to  another. 

On  March  17,  1865,  I  ordered  a  detective  to  join  one 
of  these  strolling  companies,  and,  by  closely  watching 
every  movement  made  by  them,  ascertain  the  modus  ope- 
randi  of  enlistment  under  this  social  form  of  enterprise. 

The  company  left  the  Hudson  River  Depot  in  the  half- 
past  eleven  o'clock  train,  and  presented  a  most  desperate 
and  villainous  appearance.  Indeed,  a  more  unmanageable 
set  of  desperadoes  scarcely  ever  was  seen  on  the  highway 
of  adventure. 

The  next  morning,  before  noon,  they  arrived  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  where  eleven  of  the  thirty- six  were  enlisted,  four 
of  whom  escaped  the  same  afternoon,  two  during  the  night, 
and  the  remainder  the  following  morning. 

The  next  day,  the  whole  of  the  gang  appeared  at  the 
recruiting-office  in  Albany,  seventeen  re-enlisting  there,  five 
of  whom  had  enlisted  in  Troy.  Nine  of  these  escaped  that 
evening,  and  returned  to  Troy  ;  two  pleaded  illness,  became 
in  consequence  inmates  of  the  hospital,  effecting  their  escape 
during  the  night,  and  proceeding  immediately  to  Utica,  to 
meet  those  who  had  gone  elsewhere.  Four  others  of  the 


THE  PROFITS   OF  BOUNTY  JUMPING.  269 

company  enlisted  in  Troy,  but  made  their  escape  the  same 
night. 

The  whole  party  then  remained  five  days  in  Utica,  at 
which  place  twenty-one  enlisted,  four  of  them  twice,  and 
one,  three  times.  .At  Buffalo,  owing  to  the  competition  in 
the  business  by  parties  in  Canada,  none  of  the  parties 
enlisted.  At  Chicago,  eight  of  the  band  enlisted,  four  were 
recognized  as  old  bounty  jumpers  and  arrested,  one  other 
was  arrested  for  picking  pockets,  while  the  remainder, 
frightened  at  the  turn  events  had  taken,  hurried  from  the 
city.  In  Detroit  the  Canadian  gang  had  the  field,  and 
would  not  permit  any  interference  with  their  operations. 

The  company  next  appeared  in  Rochester,  but  too  many 
being  known  there  as  deserters  to  make  their  business  prom 
ising,  they  proceeded  to  Elmira,  where  six  were  arrested  for 
desertion,  the  remainder  returning  to  New  York. 

These  men  were  absent  thirty-two  days,  and  their  total 
profits  amounted  to  thirty-two  thousand  dollars.  The  ques- 
feon  will  be  naturally  asked,  how  this  handsome  profit  was 
made.  The  bounty  broker  who  was  the  leader,  must  first 
ascertain  just  how  far,  and  by  what  means,  he  can  insure 
the  escape  of  the  jumper  after  enlistment.  A  hundred  dol 
lars  paid  to  the  sergeant  or  corporal  in  charge  at  the  rendez 
vous,  would  secure  the  liberation  of  ten  men,  while  the 
records  would  show  a  certain  number  enlisted  on  a  given 
day,  properly  credited  to  some  locality ;  and  the  books  of 
the  State  rendezvous  would  have  the  record  of  but  two  or 
three  from  the  same  place. 

This  broker  was  entitled  to  receive  for  every  recruit  from 
four  to  six  hundred  dollars,  and  the  whole  sum,  after  the 
expedition  closed,  was  divided  among  the  men.  It  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  many  gangs,  the  number  of  which  is  not 
known,  were  moving  about  in  the  northern  States  at  the 
same  moment. 

On  this  subject,  thus  far,  I  have  only  narrated  frauds 
committed  by  the  roving  military  bandits  in  disguise.  There 
was  another  way  of  dishonest  speculation,  no  less  remunera 
tive  and  criminal.  The  draft  requiring  men  to  enter  the 
service,  or  furnish  substitutes,  afforded  an  excellent  oppor 
tunity  to  "buy,  sell,  and  get  gain."  I  knew  many  instances 


270  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

where  lads  fourteen  years  of  age  were  enticed  into  drinking 
saloons,  drugged,  and  made  to  perjure  themselves,  to  become 
the  substitutes  of  some  patriotic  citizens,  the  substitutes  each 
receiving,  perhaps,  one  hundred  dollars,  which  was  almost 
invariably  stolen  from  them  before  reaching  the  general 
rendezvous. 

A  superannuated  Frenchman,  seventy-two  years  old,  un 
able  to  speak  English,  was  taken  in  an  alley  at  New  York, 
while  getting  a  scanty  but  honest  livelihood,  by  gathering 
rags.  His  hair  and  whiskers,  which  were  white  as  snow, 
were  colored  by  a  barber,  then  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Second  Congressional  District,  Williamsburgh,  and  enlisted 
as  a  substitute  for  a  well-known  shipbuilder  there.  Hearing 
of  the  outrage,  I  sent  for  the  aged  man,  and,  through  an 
interpreter,  ascertained  the  name  of  the  broker.  The  latter 
was  obliged  to  disgorge  six  hundred  dollars,  which  was  paid 
to  the  victim  of  the  dismayed  trader  in  his  fellow-men. 
The  aged  stranger  thanked  me  tremulously,  and,  with  eyes 
suffused  with  tears,  departed  from  my  office,  having  in  his 
possession  a  purse  which  his  rag-bag  would  not  have  yielded 
in  a  long  space  of  time. 

The  law  required  that  all  minors  desiring  to  enlist,  should 
first  obtain  the  consent  of  their  parents.  A  respectable  Ger 
man,  residing  in  Beaver  Street,  suddenly  missed  his  son, 
about  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  searched  for  him  diligently 
during  three  weeks,  but  all  attempts  to  discover  him  proving 
fruitless,  the  anxious  father  applied  to  me  for  counsel  and 
assistance.  I  made  him  give  me  a  written  description  of  the 
boy,  promising  him  that,  to  discover  his  whereabouts,  I 
would  leave  no  means  in  my  power  untried.  I  then  called 
a  detective  and  placed  in  his  hand  the  paper,  with  directions 
to  use  it  in  tracing  the  boy.  He  soon  returned,  with  the 
information  that  the  lad  had  enlisted  at  the  Brooklyn  rendez 
vous,  in  charge  of  Colonel  Fowler. 

I  sent  for  the  papers,  from  which  I  learned  that  a  woman, 
claiming  to  be  the  mother  of  the  boy,  had  accompanied  him 
to  the  office  and  made  the, required  affidavit.  Then  sending 
to  the  front  I  procured  the  lad's  return,  who  furnished  me 
with  the  following  particulars.  One  evening,  while  passing 
from  his  father' s  store  to  his  house,  an  elderly  man,  gentle- 


KIDNAPPING   BOYS.  271 

manly  m  appearance,  accosted  him,  inquiring  if  he  did  not 
want  a  situation.  He  replied:  "No,  sir."  His  venerable 
friend  then  left  him,  and  a  boy  of  his  own  age  came  up  and 
said,  "Come  in  here  and  get  a  glass  of  lemonade,"  pointing 
to  a  Chatham  Street  saloon.  They  went  in,  and  soon  after 
calling  for  the  drink  the  elderly  man  entered.  He  recol 
lected  nothing  more  until  the  next  morning,  when  he  found 
himself  in  a  drinking  saloon  in  Brooklyn.  His  hat  and  boots 
were  gone,  and  while  searching  for  them  an  old  man  entered, 
whom  he  recognized  as  the  one  he  had  seen  the  evening 
before.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  woman,  who  exclaimed  : 
"You  are  a  fine-looking  boy  ;  would  you  like  to  enlist  for  a 
bugler?"  at  the  same  time  taking  from  under  her  cloak  a 
small  silver  bugle,  and  adding,  "  Now,  my  son,  if  you  will 
enlist  you  shall  have  this  bugle." 

He  refused,  and  immediately  was  hurried  into  a  carriage, 
and,  in  company  with  this  admirable  couple,  was  driven  to 
Colonel  Fowler' s  headquarters. 

His  papers  were  here  made  out,  the  wretched  woman 
swearing  that  she  was  his  mother,  and  giving  her  full  con 
sent  to  his  enlistment.  The  poor  lad's  mother  had  been 
dead  ten  years.  He  was  paid  twenty-five  dollars,  while  the 
couple  who  enlisted  him  received  six  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  dollars. 

The  boy's  description  of  the  two  worthies  soon  led  to 
their  arrest,  and  it  turned  out  that  the  man  was  a  notorious 
Jew  bounty  broker,  while  the  woman  was  equally  well 
known  as  a  prostitute  of  the  city. 

Investigating  more  deeply,  1  came  to  the  startling  revela 
tion  that  this  vile  woman  had  sworn  to  be  the  mother  of  thir 
teen  other  little  boys  about  the  same  age  as  this  German  lad. 

I  shall  select  only  one  additional,  very  peculiar,  and 
highly  interesting  narrative,  from  the  mass  of  fragmentary 
materials  in  my  possession  ;  that  of  the  kidnapping  of  the 
idiot  boy  Cornelius  Garvin,  of  Troy,  New  York.  Some  of 
the  facts  found  their  way  into  the  newspapers  at  the  time  of 
their  occurrence. 

Mrs.  Garvin,  the  mother  of  the  boy,  was  a  poor,  but  hon 
est  and  respectable  Irishwoman,  who  supported  her  family 
by  hard  daily  labor.  She  had  placed  her  imbecile  SOD  in 


272  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

the  almshouse  at  Troy,  happy  in  the  consciousness  of  hi  a 
safety,  and  being  near  enough  to  visit  him  occasionally. 
The  child,  while  playing  in  the  grounds,  was  carried  off  by 
bounty  brokers,  and  transported  to  Albany,  where  he  was 
enlisted  and  sent  to  the  front. 

The  mother,  upon  receiving  the  news,  became  nearly 
frantic  ;  and,  leaving  her  work,  managed  to  get  to  Washing 
ton,  where,  through  the  interest  which  her  story  awakened, 
she  gained  an  interview  with  the  President. 

That  good  man,  whose  ear  was  ever  open  to  the  appeals 
of  humanity  and  justice,  gave  her  a  note  to  the  Secretary 
of  War,  who  referred  the  case  to  me.  I  detailed  a  detecti  ve 
to  accompany  her  to  the  battle-field.  Nearly  a  month  was 
spent  in  the  fruitless  search  for  the  lost  boy,  notwithstanding 
it  was  proved  that  ' '  poor  Con ' '  was  somewhere  in  the  army. 
The  disappointed  but  not  discouraged  mother  went  back  to 
her  toil  again,  to  get  money  to  bring  her  once  more  to  the 
Capital. 

Seven  months  passed  over  in  the  search,  with  no  clue 
to  the  boy.  Officers  lent  their  assistance,  and  no  means 
were  left  untried  to  find  the  wanderer.  The  persistency  of 
purpose,  the  undying  hope  and  affection  of  the  sorrowing 
mother  for  her  simple  "Con,"  were  hardly  ever  surpassed 
in  human  experience. 

Unable  to  read  or  write,  she  carried  always  in  her  apron 
a  large  number  of  letters,  and  other  memoranda,  from  promi 
nent  officers  and  others,  given  to  aid  her  unrewarded  search. 
Yet  she  could,  as  if  by  intuition,  or  the  inspiration  of  her 
love,  place  her  hand  upon  any  of  the  documents  she  desired 
to  use,  and  repeat  their  contents.  And  whenever  she  found 
an  interested  listener  to  her  mournful  story,  she  would  select 
the  particular  document  she  wanted  and  give  its  statements. 

After  exhausting  the  subject,  she  would  sit  in  a  musing 
mood,  gazing  into  vacancy  for  several  moments,  and  then 
start  from  her  revery,  gather  up  her  treasure  of  manuscripts, 
and  exclaiming  :  "  My  poor  Con  ;  I  must  go  and  find  him  !'' 
she  would  start  again  on  her  journey  among  the  regimenta 
of  the  Union  army. 

When  the  money  which  was  given  her,  and  earned  by 
the  severest  toil,  was  gone,  she  would  get  back  to  Troy, 


poor  Coy  ?  " 


THE  POOR  WOMAN  SEEKING  HER  BOY. 


"POOR  CON."  273 

replenish  her  purse  by  her  daily  labor,  and  return  to  the 
hunt  for  "Con,"  along  a  neir  path  of  adventure,  on  which 
had  suddenly  fallen  a  ray  of  hope  from  some  quarter  re 
specting  the  absent  boy. 

Thus  month  after  month  passed  away,  and  the  undying 
love  of  this  mother  for  the  imbecile  child,  over  whose  un 
steady  steps  and  aimless  wanderings  she  had  watched  with 
a  fondness  intensified  by  his  very  helplessness,  led  her 
along  the 'army  lines,  and  into  the  camps,  at  the  heart  of 
the  great  and  bloody  war. 

*"  Poor  Con  !"  was  on  her  lips  when  she  sought  brief  and 
restless  sleep,  and  at  the  dawn  of  day,  when  she  resumed 
the  travel,  which  would  have  no  pause  until  darkness  made 
it  impossible. 

While  she  was  roaming  at  will,  followed  by  the  sympa 
thizing  interest  of  the  President,  and  the  humblest  official  in 
the  army,  I  received  the  following  letter : — 

BUREAU  or  MILITARY  JCBTICK,  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  June  1,  1865. 

COLONEL: — 

The  case  of  Cornelius  Garvin,  an  idiot  boy,  enlisted  into  the  Fifty-second 
Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteers,  has  been  referred  to  this  bureau  for 
report. 

Among  the  papers  in  the  case,  is  a  letter  of  yours  to  the  Mayor  of  the 
city  of  Troy,  New  York,  in  which  you  state  that  Captain  Degner — in  whose 
company  the  boy  is  supposed  to  have  been — refused,  or  neglected,  to  search 
for  him,  when  ordered  to  do  so,  although  repeatedly  assured  that  he  was  in 
his  company,  under  an  assumed  name;  but,  instead  of  doing  so,  endeavored 
to  intimidate,  by  threats,  privates  of  his  company  who  were  disposed  to  aid 
in  the  search  for  the  boy. 

Be  pleased  to  furnish  this  bureau  with  any  proof  that  may  be  in  your 
possession  of  the  statements  referred  to,  or  which  may  otherwise  throw  light 
on  the  case. 

It  is  desirable  that  any  material  information  you  have  in  the  case  should 
be  communicated  at  your  earliest  convenience. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

W.  W.  WINTHKOP, 
Major,  and  Judge-Advocate,  for  Judge-Advocate  General 

To  Col.  L.  C.  BAKER,  Special  Agent  War  Department. 

Mr.  Trott,  from  this  bureau,  has  twice  called  at  your  office  on  this  subject. 

But  all  efforts  to  find  Cornelius  Garvin  were  in  vaiii. 
Several  times  the  mother  seemed  to  be  near  him  ;  but  the 

IK 


274  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

joy  at  the  prospect  of  meeting  him  soon  faded  before  cruel 
t  lisappointment. 

It  was  rumored  that  he  died  in  the  army  ;  which  was 
doubtless  true,  for  no  further  tidings  to  this  hour,  I  be 
lieve,  have  been  received  of  his  fate.  I  append  a  report 
of  my  investigations  in  the  case,  addressed  tp  the  Mayor  of 
Troy. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  June  3,  1865. 

Mayor  THORNE,  Troy,  New  York : — 

SIR — Nearly  two  years  since  Mrs.  Catherine  Garvia,  the  mother  of  the 
idiot  boy  Cornelius  Garvin,  alleged  to  have  been  stolen  from  the  County- 
House  at  Troy,  applied  to  my  headquarters  in  this  city  for  assistance  to  find 
said  boy.  With  the  meagre  facts  at  my  disposal,  I  immediately  instituted  a 
search,  which  has  resulted  in  disclosing  the  following  facts  : — 

1st.  That  the  idiot  boy,  C.  Garvin,  was  stolen,  or  surreptitiously  taken  from 
the  County  Poorhouse  at  Troy ;  that  he  was  enlisted,  sent  to  Riker's  Island, 
assigned  to  the  Fifty-second  New  York  Volunteers,  and  forwarded,  with 
other  recruits,  to  Alexandria,  Virginia ;  that  said  Garvin  was  seen  and  recog 
nized  by  a  number  of  privates  of  Company  I,  at  Mitchell's  Station,  Virginia, 
afterward  at  Mine  Run,  and  other  places ;  it  is  further  shown  that  Captain 
Degner,  Company  I,  Fifty-second  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers,  was 
repeatedly  informed  that  said  idiot  boy  was  in  his  company,  under  an 
assumed  name ;  that  he,  Captain  Degner,  instead  of  prosecuting  the  search 
for  said  boy,  as  directed  by  his  commanding  officer,  attempted  to  intimidate, 
by  threats  of  punishment,  those  privates  of  his  company  who  were  disposed 
to  assist  Mrs.  Garvin  and  others  engaged  in  the  investigation. 

Some  time  in  the  month  of  May,  1864,  by  direction  of  the  Hon.  Secretary 
of  War,  I  dispatched  a  detective  officer  to  your  city  for  the  purpose  of  ascer 
taining,  if  possible,  whether  the  boy,  Con.  Garvin,  was  sold,  taken  away,  or 
enlisted  by  the  Superintendent  of  the  County  Poorhouse.  While  the  testi 
mony  elicited  did  not  directly  implicate  the  said  superintendent,  enough  waa 
shown  to  satisfy  me  that  said  idiot  boy  could  not  have  escaped  without  the 
direct  knowledge  and  connivance  of  said  superintendent.  The  subsequent 
conduct  of  the  superintendent  toward  Mrs.  Garvin  and  those  engaged  in  the 
investigation,  in  ray  opinion,  strongly  confirms  this  opinion. 

Since  the  arrival  of  the  Fifty-second  New  York  Volunteers  in  this  city  I 
have  placed  Captain  Degner  under  arrest,  to  await  a  further  development  of 
facts.  I  am  exceedingly  desirous  of  probing  this  matter  to  the  bottom.  Our 
late  beloved  President,  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  War,  Brigadier-Generals  Hardy 
and  Townsend,  and  in  fact  all  the  officers  connected  with  the  War  Depart 
ment  who  have  listened  to  Mrs.  Garvin's  statements,  have  taken  a  deep  inter 
est  in  this  case.  The  enormity  of  the  crime,  the  aifectiou  of  the  poor  mother 
for  her  son,  her  energy,  her  persistence  and  determination  in  following  up 
every  visible  trace  of  her  poor  idiot  boy,  has  awakened,  in  the  minds  of  all 
those  conversant  with  the  facts  and  circumstances  of  the  case,  a  feeling  of 


REPORT  IN  THE   CASE   OF   CON.  GARVIN.  275 

deep  interest  and  sympathy.  I  believe  that  the  boy  is  still  living,  and  will  yet 
be  found.  I  shall  neither  spare  time  of  means  in  prosecuting  my  investiga 
tions,  with  a  view  to  bring  to  speedy  justice  all  those  engaged  in  this  inhuman 
and  diabolical  outrage. 

I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

L.  C.  BAKEE, 
GoloneL  and  Agent  War  Department. 


CHAPTER     XXII  I. 

TIIE    GREAT   CONSPIRACY. 

Assassinations — Eglon,  King  of  Moab — Oesar,  Emperor  of  Rome — James  I.  of 
England — Marat,  the  French  Revolutionary  Leader — Alexander  of  Russia — 
Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States. 

THE  history  of  treason,  conspiracy,  and  assassination, 
would  be  a  record  of  awful  inter.est — a  revelation  of  singular 
contrasts  in  motive,  while  the  tragical  end  sought  was  the 
same.  The  desperate  determination  to  secure,  at  least  avenge 
trampled  rights ;  religious  fanaticism ;  and  revengeful  pas 
sion  ;  these  have  been  the  most  frequent  causes  of  a  resort  to 
treasonable  plots  and  regicide,  with  its  kindred  homicides, 
and  attempted  murder  of  representative  men  in  a  State. 

As  introductory  to  the  narrative  of  the  facts  respecting 
ike  assassination  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  which  came  under  my  eye 
and  official  investigation,  with  fresh  details  and  documents, 
I  shall  cite  a  few  illustrations  from  the  annals  of  the  past, 
not  unfamiliar  to  intelligent  readers,  but  which,  grouped 
together,  will  be  a  suggestive  background  for  the  most 
revolting  scene  of  depravity  treason  has  ever  presented  to 
the  world.  The  earliest  instance  of  regicide  in  the  sacred 
annals  is  that  of  Ehud,  the  left-handed  Benjamite.  To 
avenge  the  tyranny  of  Eglon,  the  king  of  Moab,  the  invader 
of  his  country,  he  made  a  two-edged  dagger,  over  a  foot  and 
a  half  in  length,  and,  hiding  it  under  his  robe,  took  in  his 
hand  a  present  to  the  king.  Feigning  important  intelligence, 
the  ruler  ordered  the  attendants  to  retire,  when  Ehud  with 
his  left  hand  drew  the  dagger  from  his  right  side,  thrust  it 
into  the  king' s  body  over  the  liilt,  and,  leaving  it  there,  fled, 
after  shutting  behind  him  and  locking  the  "doors  of  the 
parlor."  He  then  blew  a  trumpet,  raised  an  army,  drove 
back  the  invaders,  and  delivered  the  nation  from  a  foremu 


ASSASSINATION   OF   CJESAR.  277 

yoke.  It  was  a  successful  assassination,  because  a  dernfer 
resort  in  resisting  oppressive  usurpation,  and  under  the 
providential  sanction  of  the  Almighty. 

In  old  Roman  history,  the  mind  turns  intuitively  to  the 
successful  conspiracy  of  which  Brutus  was  the  leader ;  and 
who,  undoubtedly,  was  governed  by  patriotic  motives.  He 
sought  to  restore  the  Government  to  the  hands  of  the  Senate 
and  the  people.  This  friend  of  Csesar  very  reluctantly  con 
sented  to  become  a  traitor ;  and  did  not,  until  the  persistent 
and  crafty  appeals  of  Cassius  and  his  fellow-conspirators 
made  him  feel  that  he  must  strike  the  blow  for  the  people. 

Plutarch's  description  of  the  assassination  is  graphic  :— 

"  When  Caesar  entered  the  house,  the  senate  rose  to  do 
him  honor.  Some  of  Brutus' s  accomplices  came  up  behind 
his  chair,  and  others  before  it,  pretending  to  Intercede,  along 
with  Metilius  Cimbri,  for  the  recall  of  his  brother  from 
exile.  They  continued  their  entreaties  till  he  came  to  his 
seat.  When  he  was  seated,  he  gave  them  a  positive  denial ; 
and  as  they  continued  their  importunities  with  an  air  of  com 
pulsion,  he  grew  angry.  Cimbri,  then,  with  both  hands, 
pulled  his  gown  off  his  neck,  which  was  the  signal  for  the 
attack.  Casca  gave  him  the  first  blow.  It  was  a  stroke 
upon  the  neck  with  his  sword,  but  the  wound  was  not  dan 
gerous  ;  for  in  the  beginning  of  so  tremendous  an  enterprise 
he  was  probably  in  some  disorder.  Caesar,  therefore,  turned 
upon  him,  and  laid  hold  of  his  sword.  At  the  same  time 
they  both  cried  out,  the  one  in  Latin — 'Villain!  Casca  1 
what  dost  thou  mean  ?'  and  the  other  in  Greek,  to  his  bro 
ther— '  Brother,  help!' 

"After  such  a  beginning,  those  who  knew  nothing  of  the 
conspiracy  were  seized  with  consternation  and  horror,  inso 
much  that  they  durst  neither  fly,  nor  assist,  nor  even  utter  a 
word.  All  the  conspirators  HOAV  drew  their  swords,  and 
surrounded  him  in  such  a  manner,  that  whatever  way  he 
turned  he  saw  nothing  but  steel  gleaming  in  his  face,  and 
met  nothing  but  wounds.  Like  some  savage  beast  attacked 
by  the  hunters,  he  found  every  hand  lifted  against  him,  for 
they  all  agreed  to  have  a  share  in  the  sacrifice  and  a  taste  of 
his  blood.  Therefore  Brutus  himself  gave  him  a  stroke  in 
the  groin.  Some  say,  he  opposed  the  rest,  and  continued 


278  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

struggling  and  crying  out  till  lie  perceived  the  sword  of 
Brutus  ;  then  he  drew  his  robe  over  his  face,  and  yielded  to 
his  fate.  Either  by  accident,  or  pushed  thither  by  the  con 
spirators,  he  expired  on  the  pedestal  of  Pompey's  statue,  and 
dyed  it  with  his  blood :  so  that  Pompey  seemed  to  preside 
over  the  work  of  vengeance,  to  tread  his  enemy  under  his 
feet,  and  to  enjoy  his  agonies.  Those  agonies  were  great,  for 
he  received  no  less  than  three-and- twenty  wounds  ;  and 
many  of  the  conspirators  wounded  each  other  as  they  were 
aiming  their  blows  at  him. 

"Csesar  thus  dispatched,  Brutus  advanced  to  speak  to 
the  Senate,  and  to  assign  his  reasons  for  what  he  had  done  ; 
but  they  could  not  bear  to  hear  him  ;  they  tied  out  of  the 
house,  and  filled  the  people  with  inexpressible  horror  and 
dismay.  Some  shut  up  their  houses  ;  others  left  their  shops 
and  counters ;  all  were  in  motion :  one  was  running  to  see 
the  spectacle  ;  another  running  back.  Antony  and  Lepidus, 
Csesar' s  principal  friends,  withdrew,  and  hid  themselves  in 
other  people's  houses.  Meantime,  Brutus  and  his  confed 
erates,  yet  warm  from  the  slaughter,  marched  in  a  body, 
with  their  bloody  swords  in  their  hands,  from  the  senate- 
house  to  the  capitol,  not  like  men  that  fled,  but  with  an  air 
of  gayety  and  confidence,  calling  the  people  to  liberty,  and 
stopping  to  talk  with  every  man  of  consequence  whom  they 
met.  There  were  some  who  even  joined  them,  and  mingled 
with  their  train  ;  desirous  of  appearing  to  have  had  a  share, 
in  the  action,  and  hoping  for  one  in  the  glory." 

A  no  less  conspicuous,  and  still  more  modern  conspiracy, 
although  a  failure,  was  the  Gunpowder  Plot  of  England, 
under  James  I. ; — the  grandest  conspiracy  in  its  scope,  and, 
if  successful,  in  results,  on  record.  Religious  fanaticism 
was  its  inspiration.  The  king's  growing  dislike  of  the 
Catholics,  and  Parliamentary  enactments  unfavorable  to 
their  prosperity,  awakened  a  fierce  opposition.  This  enmity 
was  organized  into  a  conspiracy,  under  Robert  Catesby. 
He  was  "a  gentleman  of  good  property,  in  Northampton 
and  Warwickshire,'5  says  Keightly,  "descended  from  the 
minister  of  Richard  III.,  and  had  been  brought  up  a  Catho 
lic  ;  but  he  deserted  that  religion,  plunged  into  all  sorts  of 
excesses,  and  ran  through  his  patrimony.  He  then 


GUNPOWDER   PLOT.  279 

returned  to  his  old.  religion,  and,  making  up  for  his  apostasy 
by  zeal,  became  a  fanatic,  and  engaged  in  all  the  treasons 
and  conspiracies  which  agitated  the  latter  years  of  Elizabeth. 
"He  now  conceived  the  diabolical  project  of  blowing  up 
the  Parliament-house  with  gunpowder.  This  design  he 
communicated  in  Lent,  1604,  to  John  Wright  and  Thomas 
Winter,  two  Catholic  gentlemen  or*  good  character,  family, 
and  fortune.  The  latter  hesitated  at  first,  but  his  scruples 
soon  gave  way,  and  he  went  over  to  the  Netherlands  on  a 
'double  mission  ;  the  one  was  to  try  to  induce  the  Constable 
of  Castile,  who  was  coming  over  to  conclude  the  peace,  to 
make  some  stipulations  in  favor  of  the  Catholics ;  the  other 
to  engage  in  the  plot  some  gentleman  of  courage  and  of 
military  knowledge  and  experience.  Finding  that  the  Court 
of  Spain  would  not  hazard  the  peace  which  was  so  neces 
sary  to  it,  on  their  account,  he  proceeded  to  execute  the 
other  part  of  his  commission  ;  and  the  person  on  whom  he 
fixed  was  one  Guy  Fawkes,  a  man  of  good  family  in  York 
shire,  who,  having  spent  his  little  property,  had  entered  the 
Spanish  service.  If  we  may  credit  Father  Green  way,  the 
associate  and  panegyrist  of  the  conspirators,  Fawkes  was 
'  a  man  of  great  piety,  of  exemplary  temperance,  of  mild 
and  cheerful  demeanor,  an  enemy  of  broils  and  disputes,  a 
faithful  friend,  and  remarkable  for  his  punctual  attendance 
upon  religious  observances' — in  a  word,  a  fanatic  in  whose 
•eyes  religion  j  ustified  every  deed.  Though  this  high- wrought 
character  is  doubtless  beyond  the  truth,  there  seems  on  the 
other  hand  to  be  no  ground  for  regarding  Fawkes  as  a  mere 
vulgar  ruffian. 

"On  the  night  of  the  llth  of  December,  Catesby  and  his 
associates  entered  the  house  in  Westminster,  well  supplied 
with  mining  tools,  and  with  hard  eggs  and  baked  meats  for 
their  support.  They  began  to  mine  the  wall  of  three  yards  in 
thickness  between  theirs  and  the  Parliament-house.  Fawkes 
stood  sentinel  while  the  others  wrought.  They  spread  the 
matter  which  they  extracted  in  the  day  over  the  garden  : 
night,  and  not  one  of  them  ever  went  out  of  the  house,  or 
even  into  the  upper  part  of  it,  lest  they  might  be  seen. 
They  wrought  without  ceasing  till  Christmas-eve,  when 
Fawkes  brought  them  intelligence  that  Parliament  was  fur- 


280  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

ther  prorogued  till  October.  They  then  agreed  to  separate 
till  after  the  holidays,  when  they  would  resume  their  labors. 
In  February  they  renewed  their  labors  in  the  mine,  and 
they  had  pierced  half  way  through  the  wall,  when  they  sud 
denly,  as  we  are  assured,  heard  the  tolling  of  a  bell  within 
the  wall  under  the  Parliament-house  ;  they  stopped  and  lis 
tened  ;  Fawkes  was  called  down,  and  he  also  heard  it.  On 
sprinkling  the  place,  however,  with  holy  water,  the  myste 
rious  sound  ceased ;  it  was  frequently  renewed,  but  the  same 
remedy  always  proved  efficacious,  and  it  at  length  ceased 
altogether.  One  day  they  heard  a  rushing  noise  over  their 
heads ;  they  thought  they  were  discovered,  but  Fawkes,  on 
inquiry,  found  that  it  was  made  by  a  man  of  the  name  of 
Bright,  who  was  selling  off  his  coals  from  a  cellar  under  the 
House  of  Lords,  in  order  to  remove.  They  resolved  at  once 
to  take  the  cellar,  for,  exclusive  of  the  labor,  they  found 
the  water  now  coming  in  on  them.  The  cellar  was  taken  in 
Percy's  name  also  ;  twenty  barrels  of  powder  were  conveyed 
to  it  from  the  house  in  Lambeth,  their  iron  tools  and  large 
stones  were  put  into  the  barrels  with  it,  in  order  to  give 
more  efficacy  to  the  explosion,  and  the  whole  was  covered 
with  billets  and  fagots  ;  and  lumber  and  empty  bottles  were 
scattered  through  the  cellar.  They  then  closed  it  up,  placing 
marks  withinside  of  the  door,  that  they  might  be  able  to 
ascertain  if  any  one  should  enter  it  during  their  absence. 
Having  sent  Fawkes  to  Flanders  to  inform  Sir  William 
Stanley  and  other  English  officers  of  the  project,  and  try  to 
obtain  foreign  aid,  they  separated  for  the  summer.  In  the 
autumn,  Sir  Edmund  Baynham  was  sent  to  Rome,  as  the 
agent  of  the  conspirators,  with  whose  designs  it  is  likely  he 
was  acquainted.  As  it  was  necessary  to  have  horses  and 
arms  ready,  Catesby  pretended  that  he  was  commissioned 
to  raise  a  troop  of  horse  for  the  Spanish  service,  and  lie  had 
thus  a  pretext  for  collecting  arms,  &c.,  at  his  own  house, 
and  at  that  of  Grant ;  and  several  Catholic  gentlemen  under 
taking  to  join  him  as  volunteers,  he  directed  them  to  pre 
pare  their  arms,  and  to  be  ready  when  called  on.  He  and 
Percy  now  thought  it  necessary  to  associate  some  getwtlemen 
of  wealth,  in  order  to  obtain  the  requisite  funds; and  they 
fixed  on  Sir  Everard  Digby,  of  Rutlandshire,  Ambiose 


GUNPOWDER  PLOT.  281 

Rookwood,  of  Suffolk,  and  Francis  Tresham,  of  Northamp 
tonshire  ;  the  two  first,  who  were  weak  bigots,  but  virtuous 
men,  hesitated  at  first,  but  finally  joined  cordially  in  the 
project;  the  last,  a  man  of  indifferent  character,  was  only 
admitted  on  account  of  his  wealth,  and  Catesby,  it  is  said, 
had  always  a  mistrust  of  him. 

"  Parliament  being  finally  appointed  to  meet  on  the  5th 
of  November,  the  conspirators  made  their  final  arrangements. 
Fawkes  was  to  fire  the  mine,  by  means  of  a  slow  match, 
which  would  take  a  quarter  of  an  hour  to  reach  the  powder ; 
and  as  soon  as  he  had  lighted  it,  he  was  to  hasten  and  get 
aboard  a  small  vessel  which  was  ready  in  the  river,  and 
carry  the  news  over  to  Flanders.  Digby  was  on  that  day  to 
assemble  a  number  of  the  Catholic  gentry,  under  pretext  of  a 
hunting-party,  at  Dunchurch,  in  Warwickshire  ;  and  as  soon 
as  they  heard  of  the  blow  being  struck,  they  were  to  send  a 
party  to  seize  the  Princess  Elizabeth,  who  was  at  Lord  Har 
rington' s,  in  that  neighborhood,  and  she  was  to  be  pro 
claimed  in  case  Winter  should  fail  in  the  part  assigned  him, 
of  securing  one  of  her  brothers. 

"There  was  one  point  which  had  been  disputed  from  the 
beginning,  namely,  how  to  act  with  respect  to  the  Catholic 
nobles.  Catesby,  it  would  seem,  had  little  scruple  about 
destroying  them  with  the  rest,  but  the  majority  were  for 
saving  their  friends  and  relations.  Tresham,  in  particular, 
was  most  earnest  to  save  his  brothers-in-law,  the  Lorda 
Stourton  and  Mounteagle.  It  was  finally  agreed  that  no 
express  notice  should  be  given,  but  that  various  pretexts 
should  be  employed  to  induce  their  friends  to  stay  away. 
This,  however,  did  not  content  Tresham,  and  some  days 
after  he  urged  on  Catesby  and  Percy  that  notice  should  be 
given  to  Lord  Mounteagle  ;  and  on  their  hesitating,  he  hinted 
that  he  should  not  be  ready  with  the  money  he  had  promised, 
and  proposed  that  the  catastrophe  should  be  put  off  till  the 
closing  of  the  Parliament.  His  arguments,  however,  proved 
ineffectual. 

"On  the  26th  of  October,  Lord  Mounteagle  went  and 
Bupped  at  his  house  at  Hoxton,  where  he  had  not  been  for  a 
month  before.  At  supper  a  letter  was  handed  him  by  a  page, 
who  said  he  had  received  it  from  a  strange  man  in  tie  street 


282  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

It  was  anonymous.  By  Ms  lordship's  direction,  a  gentleman 
named  Ward  read  it  aloud.  It  desired  him  to  make  some 
excuse  for  not  attending  Parliament,  'for  God  and  man,'  it 
said,  'hath  concurred  to  punish  the  wickedness  of  this  time,' 
with  sundry  other  mysterious  hints.  Lord  Mounteagle  took 
it  that  very  evening  to  Lord  Salisbury,  a|rW hitehall,  who 
showed  it  to  some  other  lords  of  the  council ;  and  it  was 
decided  that  nothing  should  be  done  till  the  king's  return 
from  Royston,  where  he  was  hunting. 

"Next  day  (31st)  the  king  returned  to  London  ;  a  council 
was  held  the  following  day  on  the  subject  of  the  letter,  and 
James  himself  is  said  to  have  divined  its  secret  meaning.* 
It  was  determined  to  search  the  cellar,  but  not  till  Monday, 
the  4th.  On  that  day,  the  Lord  Chamberlain,  Lord  Mount- 
eagle,  and  others,  went  to  the  Parliament-house.  They  found 
Fawkes  in  the  cellar,  but  they  made  no  remark,  and  that 
night,  Sir  Thomas  Knevett,  a  magistrate,  was  sent  to  the 
place  with  his  assistants  ;  he  met  Fawkes  as  he  was  stepping 
out  of  the  door,  and  arrested  him,  and  on  searching  the  cellar, 
thirty-six  barrels  of  powder  were  discovered.  Fawkes  was 
brought  before  the  council,  where  he  avowed  and  gloried  in 
his  design,  but  refused  to  name  his  accomplices  ;  he  was  then 
committed  to  the  Tower. 

"  Fawkes  was  at  first  sullen,  but  on  the  8th  of  November 
he  made  a  full  confession,  concealing,  however,  the  names  of 
his  associates,  whom,  however,  next  day  he  named  to  Lord 
Salisbury.  It  is  highly  probable  that,  according  to  custom, 
the  rack  had  been  applied  to  him. 

"  In  the  whole  course  of  history,  an  instance  more  demon 
strative  of  the  baleful  effects  of  a  false  sense  of  religion  on 
the  mind  and  heart  is  not  to  be  found  than  this  plot.  A 
more  horrible  design  never  was  conceived  ;  yet  those  who' 
engaged  in  it  were  mostly  men  of  mild  manners,  correct 
lives,  and  independent  fortunes — all,  we  may  say,  actuated 
by  no  ignoble  motive,  but  firmly  believing  that  they  were 
doing  good  service  to  God.  '  I  am  satisfied,'  said  John 
Grant,  on  the  day  of  his  execution,  'that  our  project  was  so 
far  from  being  sinful,  that  I  rely  on  my  merits  in  bearing  a 

*  He  might  havo  done  this,  and  yet  Cecil  have  known  the  real  fact  already. 


CHARLOTTE   CORDAY— MARAT.  283 

part  of  that  noble  action  as  an  abundant  satisfaction  and 
expiation  for  all  sins  committed  by  me  during  the  rest  of  my 
life.'  '  Nothing  grieves  me,'  said  Robert  Winter  to  Fawkes, 
'  but  that  there  is  not  an  apology  made  by  some  to  justify 
our  doing  in  this  business ;  but  our  deaths  will  be  a  suf 
ficient  justification  of  it,  and  it  is  for  God's  cause.'  It  is  said 
by  Greenway,  that  as  Rookwood  was  drawn  to  execution, 
his  wife  stood  at  an  open  window  in  the  Strand,  comforting 
him,  and  telling  him  '  to  be  of  good  courage,  inasmuch  as  he 
suffered  for  a  great  and  noble  cause.'  Of  the  truth  of  this, 
however,  we  are  rather  dubious  ;  fear  alone  would,  we 
apprehend,  prevent  her  from  giving  utterance  to  such  ex 
pressions." 

During  the  revolutionary  movements  of  the  last  century, 
no  figure  attracts  more  sympathy  and  interest  among  the 
actors  in  sanguinary  scenes  of  unjustifiable  violence,  than 
that  of  Charlotte  Corday,  of  Normandy,  herself  descended 
from  the  Norman  nobility.  She  was  masculine  in  the  vigor 
of  her  intellect  and  acquaintance  with  political  economy, 
but  virtuous  and  modest  in  character.  At  first  an  advocate 
of  the  French  Revolution,  because  she  hailed  it  as  the  dawn 
of  national  liberty,  the  unprincipled  and  bloody  aspect  it 
soon  assumed  disheartened  and  alarmed  her,  until  her  single 
absorbing  thought  was  the  protection  of  whatever  of  free 
dom  remained  to  France. 

"Marat,"  records  Madame  Junot,  "was  at  this  period 
the  ostensible  chief  of  the  mountain  party,  and  the  most 
sanguinary  of  its  members.  He  was  a  most  hideous  deform 
ity,  both  in  mind  and  person ;  his  lank  and  distorted  fea 
tures,  covered  with  leprosy,  and  his  vulgar  and  ferocious 
leer,  were  a  true  index  of  the  passions  which  worked  in  his 
odious  mind.  A  series  of  unparalleled  atrocities  had  raised 
him  to  the  highest  power  with  his  party  ;  and  though  he 
professed  to  be  merely  passive  in  the  revolutionary  govern 
ment,  his  word  was  law  with  the  Convention,  and  his  fiat 
irrevocable.  In  every  thing  relating  to  the  acquisition  of 
wealth  he  was  incorruptible,  and  even  gloried  in  his  poverty. 
But  the  immense  influence  he  had  acquired  turned  his  brain, 
and  he  gave  full  range  to  the  evil  propensities  of  his  nature, 
now  unchecked  by  any  authority.  He  had  formed  princi- 


284  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

pies  of  political  faith  in  which,  perhaps,  he  sincerely  be 
lieved,  but  which  were  founded  on  his  inherent  love  of 
blood,  and  his  hatred  of  every  human  being  who  evinced 
talents  or  virtue  above  his  fellow-men.  The  guillotine  was 
not  only  the  altar  of  the  distorted  thing  he  worshipped, 
under  the  name  of  Liberty,  but  it  was  also  the  instrument 
of  his  pleasures :  for  his  highest  gratification  was  the  writh 
ings  of  the  victim  who  fell  under  his  axe.  Even  Robespierre 
attempted  to  check  this  unquenchable  thirst  of  human  blood ; 
but  in  vain  ;  opposition  only  excited  Marat  to  greater  atroci 
ties.  With  rage  depicted  in  his  livid  features,  and  with  the 
howl  of  a  demoniac,  he  would  loudly  declare  that  rivers  of 
blood  could  alone  purify  the  land,  and  must,  therefore,  flow. 
In  his  paper,  entitled  'L'  AmiduPeuple,'  he  denounced  all 
those  whom  he  had  doomed  to  death,  and  the  guillotine 
spared  none  whom  he  designated. 

1  'Charlotte  Corday,  having  read  his  assertion  in  this 
journal,  that  three  hundred  thousand  heads  were  requisite 
to  consolidate  the  liberties  of  the  French  people,  could  not. 
contain  her  feelings.  Her  cheeks  flushed  with  indigna 
tion  :— 

"'What!'  she  exclaimed,  'is  there  not  in  the  whole 
country  a  man  bold  enough  to  kill  this  monster  V 

"Imagining  that,  if  she  could  succeed  in  destroying 
Marat,  the  fall  of  his  party  must  necessarily  ensue,  she 
determined  to  offer  up  her  own  life  for  the  good  of  her 
country. 

"She  went  to  the  Palais   Royal,  and   bought  a  sharp- 
pointed  carving-knife,  with  a  black  sheath.     On  her  return 
to  the  hotel  in  which  she  lodged — Hotel  de  la  Providence, 
Rue  des  Augustins — she  made  her  preparation  for  the  deed 
she  intended  to  commit  the  next   day.      Having  put  her 
papers  in  order,  she  placed  a  certificate  of  her  baptism  in  a 
red  pocket-book,  in   order  to  take  it  with  her,  and  thus 
establish  her  identity.     This  she  did  because  she  had  re.- 
solved  to  make  no  attempt  to  escape,  and  was,  therefore 
certain  she  should  leave  Marat' s  house  for  the  conciergerie, 
preparatory  to  her  appearing  before  the  revolutionary  tri 
bunal. 

"  JSText  morning,  the  14th,  taking  with  her  the  knife  slu 


ASSASSINATION  OF  MARAT.  285 

had  purchased,  and  her  red  pocket-"book,  she  proceeded  to 
Marat's  residence.  The  representative  was  ill,  and  could 
not  be  seen,  and  Charlotte' s  entreaties  for  admittance  on  the 
most  urgent  business  were  unavailing.  She  therefore  with 
drew,  and  wrote  the  following  note,  which  she  herself 
delivered  to  Marat's  servant :  — 

"  CITIZEN  REPRESENTATIVE  : — 

"I  am  just  arrived  from  Caen.  Your  well-known  patriotism  leads  me  to 
presume  that  you  will  be  glad  to  be  made  acquainted  with  what  is  passing  in 
that  part  of  the  Republic.  I  will  call  on  you  again,  in  the  course  of  the  day"; 
ha\  e  the  goodness  to  give  orders  that  I  may  be  admitted,  and  grant  me  a  few 
minutes'  conversation.  I  have  important  secrets  to  reveal  to  you. 

"CHARLOTTE  CORDAY. 

"At  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  she  returned,  and 
reached  Marat' s  antechamber ;  but  the  woman  who  waited 
on  him  refused  to  admit  her  to  the  monster's  presence. 
Marat,  however,  who  was  in  a  bath  in  the  next  room,  hear 
ing  the  voice  of  a-  young  girl,  and  little  thinking  she  had 
come  to  deprive  him  of  life,  ordered  that  she  should  be 
shown  in.  Charlotte  seated  herself  by  the  side  of  the  bath. 
The  conversation  ran  upon  the  disturbances  in  the  depart 
ment  of  Calvados  ;  and  Charlotte,  fixing  her  eyes  upon 
Marat's  countenance,  as  if  to  scrutinize  his  most  secret 
thoughts,  pronounced  the  names  of  several  of  the  Girondist 
deputies. 

"  'They  shall  soon  be  arrested,'  he  cried,  with  a  howl  of 
rage,  'and  executed  the  same  day.' 

' '  He  had  scarcely  uttered  these  words,  when  Charlotte' s 
knife  was  buried  in  his  bosom. 

"'Help!'  he  cried;  'help!  I  am  murdered.'  He  died 
immediately." 

The  very  latest  attempt  at  assassination  was  the  fruitless 
aim  of  the  weapon  of  death  at  the  life  of  Alexander  of  Russia, 
whos<>  details  are  still  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the  civilized 
'world  —a  madly  rash  endeavor  to  slay  a  monarch  unrivaled 
in  regard  for  popular  rights,  and  in  the  admiration  of  his 
subjects,  no  less  than  of  other  nations.  It  revealed  the 
slumbering  hate  of  the  aristocratic  class,  and  the  certainty 
that  if  a  ruler's  policy  infringe  upon  time-honored  exclusive- 


286  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

ness,  and  proud  but  unrighteous  distinctions,  Ms  life  is  in 
peril,  along  with  that  of  the  tyrant  who  exasperates,  with 
better  reason  on  their  part,  the  outraged  masses.  This 
naturally  brings  me  to  the  assassination  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
the  purest  patriot  and  wisest,  most  paternal  ruler  of  any  age. 

I  shall  not  discuss  the  political  questions  and  resolutions 
whose  issue  was  the  election  to  the  presidential  chair  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  in  the  autumn  of  1860.  But  to  follow 
the  conspiracy  against  his  life  from  the  beginning  to  the 
fearful  end,  I  go  back  to  the  thwarted  plot  which  followed 
that  popular  choice. 

The  statement  made  by  a  gentleman  of  Philadelphia,  who 
was  a  prominent  actor  in  the  defeat  of  the  deliberate  and 
well-arranged  plan  to  murder  the  President  elect,  will 
furnish  an  argument  in  behalf  of  the  detective  service,  the 
strength  of  which  is  measured  by  the  value  of  his  useful  life 
during  more  than  four  years.  The  narrative  was  substan 
tially  as  follows  :— 

In  the  month  of  January,  1861,  a  gentleman,  holding  a 
position  in  this  city  which  made  him  a  proper  agent  to  act 
on  the  information,  was  waited  upon  by  a  lady,  who  stated 
to  him  her  suspicions  or  knowledge — whence  derived  we  are 
not  able  to  say — of  a  plot  to  assassinate  Mr.  Lincoln  when 
on  his  way  from  his  home,  in  Illinois,  to  Washington,  to  be 
inaugurated  as  President.  The  active  parties,  or  some  of 
them,  in  the  business,  were  understood  to  be  in  Baltimore. 
At  all  events,  the  gentleman  considered  that  the  intelligence 
had  sufficient  foundation  to  make  it  his  duty  to  satisfy  him 
self  whether  it  might  be  correct.  He  accordingly  employed 
a  detective  officer,  a  man  who  had  in  his  profession  become 
notable  for  his  sagacity  and  success,  to  go  to  Baltimore  and 
adopt  his  own  course  to  detect  the  parties  to  and  plan  of 
the  conspiracy.  The  officer  went  to  Baltimore,  and  opened 
an  office  as  some  sort  of  broker  or  agent,  under  an  assumed 
name.  Being  supplied  with  needful  funds,  he  made  occa 
sions  to  become  acquainted  with  certain  classes  of  secession 
ists,  and  by  degrees  was  on  free  and  easy  terms  with  them. 
He  took  each  man  in  his  humor,  dined  and  supped  with 
some,  gambled  with  others,  'treated,' and  seconded  dissipa 
tions  in  more  ways  than  need  be  expressly  stated,  until  he 


FIRST   CONSPIRACY   AGAINST   MR.  LINCOLN.  287 

had  secured  enough  of  their  confidence  to  be  familiar  with 
the  particulars  of  their  schemes.  Meanwhile  it  had  been 
ascertained  that  on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  Railroad  there 
wwe  men-  engaged  in  military  drilling.  Several  other  detec 
tives  were  employed  by  the  chief  to  discover  the  purpose 
of  those  organizations  ;  and,  disguised  as  laborers  or  farm 
hands,  they  got  themselves  mustered  in.  One  of  the  military 
companies  proved  to  be  loyal  in  its  purpose  ;  another,  under 
pretense  of  being  prepared  to  guard  one  or  more  of  the 
bridges  north  of  Baltimore,  was  designed  for  quite  an  oppo 
site  purpose.  It  will  be  remembered  that  some  time  before 
Mr.  Lincoln  set  out  from  his  home  for  Washington,  his 
intended  route  thither  was  published.  A  part  of  the  pro 
gramme  was  that  he  should  visit  Harrisburg  and  Philadel 
phia.  We  believe  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  not  advised  espe 
cially  of  any  personal  danger  until  he  was  about  to  go  to 
Harrisburg,  and  then,  at  the  instance  of  the  gentleman 
referred  to,  he  was  urged  to  proceed  without  delay  to  Wash 
ington.  He  replied,  however,  that  he  had  promised  the 
people  of  Harrisburg  to  answer  their  invitation,  and  he 
would  do  so  if  it  cost  him  his  life.  He  accordingly  visited 
Harrisburg  on  the  22d  of  February.  1861.  It  was  intended 
he  should  rest  there  that  evening.  ,  But  under  the  manage 
ment  of 'the  gentleman,'  another  arrangement  was  effected. 
The  night  train  from  Philadelphia  to  Baltimore  and  Wash 
ington  left  at  half- past  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening.  It  was 
determined  that  Mr.  Lincoln  should  go  secretly  by  that  train 
on  the  evening  of  the  23d  ;  and  to  enable  him  to  do  30,  a 
special  train  was  provided  to  bring  him  secretly  from  Harris 
burg  to  Philadelphia.  After  dark,  in  the  former  city,  when 
it  was  presumed  he  had  retired  fo  his  hotel,  he  accordingly 
took  the  special  train,  and  came  to  Philadelphia.  Mean 
while,  in  anticipation  of  his  coming,  'the  gentleman'  had 
insured  the  detention  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore 
train,  under  the  pretense  that  a  parcel  of  important  docu 
ments  for  one  of  the  departments  in  Washington  must  be 
dispatched  by  it,  but  which  might  not  be  ready  until  after 
the  regular  time  of  the  starting  of  that  train.  By  a  similar 
representation,  the  connecting  train  from  Baltimore  to  Wash 
ington  was  alsc  detained.  Owing  to  the  late  hour  ^t  which 


288  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

the  special  train  left  Harrisburg  with  Mr.  Lincoln,  it  did  not, 
as  was  anticipated,  reach  this  city  until  after  the  usual  Phila 
delphia  and  Baltimore  time.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  accompanied 
by  the  officer  who  had  been  employed  in  Baltimore.  A  formi 
dable  bundle  of  old  railroad  reports  had  been  made  up  in  the 
office  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  Company,  which  the 
officer,  duly  instructed,  had  charge  of.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
Harrisburg  train,  Mr.  Lincoln  took  a  carriage  in  waiting,  and 
with  his  escort  was  driven  to  the  depot  at  Broad  and  Prime 
Streets.  The  officer  made  some  ostentatious  bustle,  arriving 
with  his  parcel  for  which  the  train  was  detained,  and  pass 
ing  through  the  depot  entered  the  cars,  Mr.  Lincoln  in  his 
company.  As  Mr.  Lincoln  passed  through  the  gate,  the  man 
attending  it  remarked :  "Old  fellow,  it' s  well  for  you  the 
train  was  detained  to-night,  or  you  wouldn't  have  gone  in 
it.'  No  one  aboard  the  train  but  the  agent  of  the  company 
and  the  officer  knew  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  being  in  it.  He  was 
conducted  to  a  sleeping  car,  and  thus  was  kept  out  of  the 
way  of  observation.  To  guard  against  any  possible  commu 
nication  by  telegraph  at  this  time,  the  circuit  was  broken,  to 
be  united  when  it  would  be  safe  to  do  so.  The  plan  of  the 
conspirators  was  to  break  or  burn  one  of  the  bridges  north 
of  Baltimore,  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  anticipated  ap 
proach,  on  the  following  day  ;  and  in  the  confusion  incident 
to  the  stoppage  of  the  train,  to  assassinate  him  in  the  cars. 
Hence  the  extra  precaution  above  mentioned,  regarding  the 
telegraph.  In  due  time  the  train  with  Mr.  Lincoln  reached 
Washington,  and  he  being  safe  there,  the  officer,  as  pre 
viously  instructed,  sent  a  dispatch  to  'the  gentleman'  that 
'the  parcel  of  documents  had  been  delivered.'  The  public, 
and,  above  all,  the  conspirators,  awoke  on  the  morning  of 
the  24th  to  be  astonished  with  the  intelligence  that  Mr.  Lin 
coln  had  arrived  in  Washington.  It  may  be  well  to  mention 
here  that  the  story  of  his  disguise  in  a  'Scotch  cap'  and 
cloak,  was  untrue.  He  wore  his  ordinary  traveling  cap,  and 
was  in  no  sense  of  the  word  disguised. 

His  safe  arrival  in  the  Capital,  the  public  receptions,  and 
the  joyful  anticipations  of  the  loyal  people,  succeeded  the 
hours  of  unappreciated  danger,  because  generally  unknown. 


ASSASSINATION    OF   PRESIDENT   LINCOLN.  289 

The  services  of  the  remarkable  man,  during  the  war,  have 
become  familiar  history  to  the  humblest  citizen. 

April  11,  1865,  the  National  Capital  and  the  country  were 
again  jubilant  over  the  closing  victories  of  the  conflict.  The 
recently  reinaugurated  President  was  serenaded,  and  made 
congratulatory  speeches  amid  the  splendors  of  the  evening 
illumination.  Then  came  the  14th,  with  the  commemorative 
flag-raising  at  Fort  Sumter  ;  and  the  17th  was  set  apart  for  a 
general  expression  of  grateful  joy. 

But  it  was  a  day  of  darkness  and  woe,  which  has  no 
parallel  in  national  annals.  The  events  which  shrouded  the 
land  in  this  tearful  gloom  will  be  detailed  in  the  account  of 
the  capture  of  the  assassin,  and  his  career  in  its  relation 
to  it. 

There  was  a  very  extraordinary  indifference  in  the  mind 
of  Mr.  Lincoln  in  regard  to  threats  of  assassination,  some  of 
which  I  communicated  to  him.  Several  times  I  walked  with 
him  in  the  grounds  of  the  White  House,  at  a  late  hour  of 
the  evening,  conversing  upon  such  intelligence  of  the  war  as 
I  had  received.  Whenever  allusion  was  made  to  the  intima 
tions  of  cherished  designs  upon  his  life,  he  almost  playfully 
listened,  and  apparently  was  unable  to  believe  depravity 
could  go  so  far  as  to  destroy  a  friend  of  all  the  people,  such 
as  he  felt  himself  to  be.  But  the  risk  was  taken,  and  the 
plotting  was  too  successful  against  the  victorious  loyalty  of 
the  North. 

About  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  April  14,  1865,  while 
the  play,  "Our  American  Cousin,"  was  progressing,  a  stran 
ger,  who  proved  to  be  John  Wilkes  Booth,  an  actor  of  some 
note,  worked  his  way  into  the  proscenium  box,  occupied  by 
the  presidential  party,  and  leveling  a  pistol  close  behind  the 
head  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  he  fired,  and  the  ball  was  lodged  deep 
in  the  brain  of  the  President.  The  assassin  then  drew  a  dirk, 
sprang  from  the  box,  flourishing  the  weapon  aloft,  and 
shouted,  as  he  reached  the  stage,  the  motto  upon  the  es 
cutcheon  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  "  Sic  Semper  Tyrannis  /" 
He  dashed  across  the  stage,  and  before  the  audience  could 
realize  the  real  position  of  affairs,  the  murderer  had  mounted 
a  fleet  horse  in  waiting  in  an  alley  in  the  rear  of  the  theatre, 
and  galloping  oft*,  lie  escaped  for  a  time. 


290  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

The  screams  of  Mrs.  Lincoln  first  disclosed  to  the  audi 
ence  the  fact  that  the  President  was  shot,  when  all  rose, 
many  pressing  toward  the  stage,  and  exclaiming,  uHang 
him  !  Hang  him  !"  The  excitement  was  of  the  wildest  nature. 
Others  rushed  for  the  President's  box,  while  others  cried 
out,  " Stand  back!  Give  him  fresh  air!"  and  called  for 
stimulants.  It  was  not  known  at  first  where  he  was  wound 
ed,  the  most  of  those  about  him  thinking  that  he  was  shot 
through  the  heart;  but  after  opening  his  vest,  and  finding 
no  wound  in  his  breast,  it  was  discovered  that  he  was  shot 
in  the  head,  between  the  left  ear  and  the  centre  of  the  back 
part  of  the  head.  In  a  few  moments  he  was  borne  to  a  pri 
vate  house,  Mr.  Peterson's,  just  opposite  the  theatre,  where 
the,  Surgeon-General,  and  several  prominent  physicians  and 
surgeons  were  speedily  summoned.  Meanwhile  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Cabinet,  with  the  exception  of  Secretary  Seward, 
whose  life  had  been  attempted  by  an  assassin  at  about  the 
same  hour  with  the  President,  assembled  in  the  room  where 
the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  nation  lay  dying. 

Secretaries  Stanton,  Welles,  Usher,  McCulloch,  Attorney- 
General  Speed,  and  Assistant  Secretaries  Maunsell  B.  Field, 
of  the  Treasury,  and  Judge  William  T.  Otto,  of  the  Interior, 
together  with  Speaker  Colfax,  and  several  other  prominent 
gentlemen  were  present.  The  scene  was  one  of  extraordi 
nary  solemnity.  The  history  of  the  world  does  not  furnish 
a  parallel.  Quiet,  breathing  away  his  life  serenely,  uncon 
scious  of  all  around,  sensible  to  no  pain,  lay  the  great  MAN 
of  the  nineteenth  century,  passing  hence  to  that  immortality 
which  has  been  accorded  by  Providence  to  few  of  earthly 
mould. 

All  the  long,  weary  night,  the  watchers  stood  by  the 
couch  of  the  dying  President.  From  the  moment  when  the 
fatal  bullet  entered  his  brain  he  never  spoke,  never  evinced 
any  consciousness,  but,  with  closed  eyes,  rested  in  a  repose 
which  appeared  to  be  the  quiet  of  death.  Mrs.  Lincoln  and 
Captain  Robert  Lincoln  several  times  entered  the  chamber, 
but  their  grief  was  such  that  they  tarried  but  a  brief  time, 
tender  friends  urging  them  to  remain  in  the  adjoining  room. 

Day  dawned  at  length,  and  the  tide  of  life  ebbed  more 
rapidly,  and  at  twenty-two  minutes  past  seven  o'clock,  on 


LAST   HOURS   OF   THE   PRESIDENT.  291 

tlie  morning  of  Saturday,  April  15,  1865,  the  President 
breathed  his  last,  closing  his  eyes  as  if  falling  to  sleep,  and 
his  countenance  assuming  an  expression  of  perfect  serenity. 
There  were  no  indications  of  pain,  and  it  was  not  known 
that  he  was  dead  until  the  gradually  decreasing  respiration 
ceased  altogether. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Gurley,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  Washington,  which  Mr.  Lincoln  attended  regularly  with 
his  family,  immediately  on  its  being  ascertained  that  life  was 
extinct,  knelt  at  the  bedside,  and  offered  an  impressive 
prayer,  which  was  responded  to  by  all  present, 

Dr.  Gurley  then  proceeded  to  the  front  parlor,  where 
Mrs.  Lincoln,  Captain  Robert  Lincoln,  Mr.  John  Hay,  the 
President's  Private  Secretary,  and  others  were  waiting, 
where  he  again  offered  prayer  for  the  consolation  of  the 
family. 

The  following  minutes,  taken  "by  Dr.  Abbott,  show  the 
condition  of  the  President  throughout  the  night: — 11  p.  M., 
pulse  44  ;  11.05  P.  M.,  pulse  45,  and  growing  weaker ;  11.10 
p.  M.,  pulse  45  ;  11.15  p.  M.,  pulse  42  ;  11.20  p.  M.,  pulse  45, 
respiration  27  to  30  ;  11.25  p.  M.,  pulse  42  ;  11.32  P.  M.,  pulse 
48  and  full ;  11.40  p.  M.,  pulse  45  ;  21.45  p.  M.,  pulse  45,  respi 
ration  22  ;  12.08  A.  M.,  respiration  22  ;  12.15  A.  M.,  respiration 
21,  ecchymosis  of  both  eyes;  12.30  A.  M.,  pulse  54;  12.32 
A.  M.,  pulse  60 ;  12.35  A.  M.,  pulse  66  ;  12.40  A.  M.,  pulse  69  ; 
right  eye  much  swollen,  and  ecchymosed  ;  12.45  A.  M.,  pulse 
70,  respiration  27 ;  12.55  A.  M.,  pulse  80,  struggling  motion  of 
arms;  1  A.  M.,  pulse  86,  respiration  30  ;  1.30  A.  M.,  pulse  95, 
appearing  easier  ;  1.45  A.  M.,  pulse  87,  very  quiet,  respira 
tion  irregular,  Mrs.  Lincoln  present ;  2.10  A.  M.,  Mrs.  Lincoln 
retired  with  Robert  Lincoln  to  an  adjoining  room  ;  2.30  A.  M.. 
the  President  is  very  quiet,  pulse  54,  respiration  28  ;  2.52 
A.  M.,  pulse  48,  respiration  30  ;  3  A.  M.,  visited  again  by  Mrs. 
Lincoln  ;  3.25  A.  M.,  respiration  24,  and  regular;  3.25  A.  M., 
prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gurley  ;  4  A.  M.,  respiration  26,  and 
regular  ;  4.15  A.  M.,  pulse  60,  respiration  25  ;  5.50  A.  M.,  res 
piration  28  and  regular,  sleeping  ;  6  A.  M.,  pulse  failing,  res 
piration  28;  6.30  A.  M.,  still  failing,  and  labored  breathing  ; 
7  A.  M.  symptoms  of  immediate  dissolution  ;  7.22  A.  M., 
death 


292  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

Surrounding  the  death-bed  of  the  President  were  Secreta 
ries  Stanton,  Welles,  Usher,  Attorney-General  Speed,  Post 
master-General  Dennison,  M.  T.  Field,  Assistant  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  ;  Judge  Otto,  Assistant  Secretary  of  Interior ; 
General  Halleck,  General  Meigs,  Senator  Simmer,  F.  R. 
Andrews,  of  New  York  ;  General  Todd,  of  Dacotah  ;  John 
Hay,  Private  Secretary  ;  Governor  Oglesby,  of  Illinois  ;  Gen 
eral  Farnsworth,  Mr.  and  Miss  Kenny,  Miss  Harris,  Captain 
Robert  Lincoln,  son  of  the  President,  and  Dr.  E.  W.  Abbott, 
R.  K.  Stone,  C.  D.  Gatch,  Neal  Hall,  and  Leiberman.  Sec- 
retary  McCulloch  remained  with  the  President  until  about  5 
A.  M.,  and  Chief- Justice  Chase,  after  several  hours  attend 
ance  during  the  night,  returned  again  early  in  the  morning, 

A  special  Cabinet  meeting  was  called  immediately  after 
the  President's  death,  by  Secretary  Stanton,  and  held  in  the 
room  where  the  corpse  lay.  Secretaries  Stanton,  Welles, 
and  Usher,  Postmaster- General  Dennison,  and  Attorney- 
General  Speed,  were  present. 

After  his  death,  a  complete  examination  was  made  of  the 
wound  with  the  following  result :  The  ball  entered  the  skull 
midway  between  the  left  ear  and  the  center  of  the  back  of 
the  head,  and  passed  nearly  to  the  right  eye.  The  ball  and 
two  loose  fragments  of  lead  were  found  in  the  brain.  Sin 
gularly  enough,  both  orbital  roofs  were  fractured  inwardly, 
properly  from  contre-coup.  The  tenacity  of  life  was  special 
ly  noticed  by  every  surgeon  in  attendance.  The  brain  was 
taken  out,  but  a  considerable  portion  of  it  had  already 
escaped  from  the  wound. 

Ford's  Theater,  now  converted  into  a  museum  of  war 
relics,  is  situated  on  Tenth  Street,  just  above  E  Street ;  a 
large  edifice,  built  of  brick,  and  plain  in  appearance.  The 
four  upper  boxes  were  the  boxes  of  the  theatre,  and  very 
elegant  and  spacious. 

The  box  which  the  President  occupied,  and  which  was 
known  as  "The  President's  Box,"  consisted  of  the  two 
upper  boxes  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  house  as  you  face 
the  stage,  thrown  into  one.  It  was  fitted  up  with  great  ele 
gance  and  taste.  The  curtains  were  of  fine  lace  and  buff 
satin,  the  paper  dark  and  figured,  the  carpet  Turkey,  the 
seats  velvet,  and  the  exterior  ornamentations  were  lit  up 


O        ANONYMOUS    COMMUNICATIONS.  >|)3 

with  a  chaste  chandelier  suspended  from  the  outside.  A 
winding  staircase  led  up  to  the  lobbies  which  conducted  to 
the  box,  and  unless  the  arrangements  were  stringent,  no 
decently  dressed  person  would  find  much  difficulty,  proba 
bly,  in  entering  after  being  opened  for  the  ingress  of  the 
party.  The  house  would  hold  probably  between  two  and 
three  thousand  people. 

There  were  two  alleys  at  Ford' s  Theater.  One  led  from 
the  stage,  along  the  east  side  of  the  theater,  between  the 
theatre  and  a  refreshment  saloon,  and  so  out  to  Tenth  Street. 
The  alley  was  neatly  paved,  and  boarded  and  papered  on 
both  sides.  The  entry  to  it  from  the  stage  was  through  a 
glass  door,  and  the  exit  from  it  on  to  Tenth  Street  through  a 
wooden  one. 

The  other  passage-way  led  from  the  back  of  the  theatre  to 
a  small  alley  which  communicated  with  Ninth  and  other 
streets,  and  conducted  to  a  livery -stable  locality.  It  was  iu 
this  alley  that  the  horse  of  the  murderer  was  kept  waiting. 

The  Tenth  Street  door  would  have  been  too  public,  and 
escape,  even  temporary,  a  matter  of  impossibility.  But  the 
escape  by  the  alley  leading  from  the  back  of  the  stage  was 
comparatively  safe. 

There  were  two  doors  there,  one  used  for  the  egress  and 
ingress  of  the  actors,  and  the  other  devoted  to  the  accommo 
dation  of  scenery  and  machinery.  It  was  through  the  smaller 
one  that  the  assassin  made  his  exit. 

On  one  occasion  I  carried  to  Mr.  Lincoln  two  anonymous 
communications,  in  which  he  was  threatened  with  assassina 
tion.  In  a  laughing,  joking  manner,  he  remarked,  "Well, 
Baker,  what  do  they  want  to  kill  me  for  ?  If  they  kill  me, 
they  will  run  the  risk  of  getting  a  worse  man." 


CHAPTER     XXTV. 

THE    ASSASSINS    CAPTURED. 

Excitement  around  ray  Headquarters  at  Washington — The  Chief  Conspirator — A 
Graphic  Narrative  of  his  Arrest— His  Burial— Desire  for  Relics  from  his  Body- 
Hanging  of  the  Conspirators. 

ALONG  with  my  own  narrative,  and  that  of  other  officers, 
1  shall  freely  quote  from  sketches  written  at  the  time  by 
others,  and  chiefly  at  my  headquarters,  around  which  the 
excitement  attending  the  dreadful  tragedy  seemed  to  surge, 
like  a  felt  but  invisible  tide,  gathering  strength  every  hour. 
To  gratify,  as  far  as  possible  to  do  so,  the  mournful  curiosity 
of  the  people  to  learn  the  details  of  the  affair,  some  corre 
spondence  directly  from  the  centre  of  investigation  and  emo 
tion  was  allowed.  With  this  general  explanation,  there  will 
be  no  further  reference  to  the  extracts ;  they  will  be  indi 
cated  by  their  connection  and  the  tone  of  narrative,  and 
quite  accurate  in  detail. 

One  of  the  writers,  whose  account  of  Booth's  arrest  may 
seem  somewhat  "sensational,"  and  who  sat  in  my  office  un 
der  unusual  nervous  excitement,  created  by  the  extraordi 
nary  circumstances,  is  now  a  foreign  correspondent  of  a 
leading  New  York  daily. 

"  John  Wilkes  Booth  was  the  projector  of  the  plot  against 
the  President,  which  culminated  in  the  taking  of  that  good 
man's  life.  He  had  rolled  under  his  tongue  the  sweet  para 
graphs  of  Shakespeare  referring  to  Brutus,  as  his  father  had 
!jo  well,  that  the  old  man  named  one  son  Junius  Brutus,  and 
the  other  John  Wilkes,  after  the  wild  English  agitator,  until 
it  became  his  ambition,  like  the  wicked  Lorenzino  de  Medici, 
to  stake  his  life  upon  one  stroke  for  fame,  the  murder  of  a 
ruler  obnoxious  to  the  South. 

"Booth  shrank  at  lirst  from  murde^    urtn  another  and 


THE   KIDNAPPING   PLOT.  295 

leas  dangerous  resolution  failed.  This  was  nc  less  than  the 
capture  of  the  President' s  body,  and  its  detention  or  trans 
portation  to  the  South.  I  do  not  rely  for  this  assertion  upon 
his  sealed  letter,  where  he  avows  it ;  there  has  been  found 
upon  a  street  within  the  city  limits  a  house  belonging  to  one 
Mrs.  Greene,  rained  and  furnished  with  underground  apart 
ments,  furnished  with  manacles,  and  all  the  accessories  to 
private  imprisonment.  Here  the  President,  and  as  many  as 
could  be  gagged  and  conveyed  away  with  him,  were  to  be 
^concealed,  in  the  event  of  failure  to  run  them  into  the  Con 
federacy.  Owing  to  his  failure  to  group  around  him  as  many 
men  as  he  desired,  Booth  abandoned  the  project  of  kidnap 
ping  ;  but  the  house  was  discovered,  as  represented,  ready 
to  be  blown  up  at  a  moment' s  notice. 

"It  was  at  this  time  that  Booth  devised  his  triumphal 
route  through  the  South.  The  dramatic  element  seems  to 
have  been  never  lacking  in  his  design,  and  with  all  his  base 
purposes  he  never  failed  to  consider  some  subsequent  noto 
riety  to  be  enjoyed.  He  therefore  shipped,  before  the  end 
of  1861,  his  theatrical  wardrobe  from  Canada  to  Nassau. 
After  the  commission  of  his  crime  he  intended  to  reclaim  it, 
and  'star'  through  the  South,  drawing  many,  as  much  by 
his  crime  as  his  abilities. 

"When  Booth  began,  'on  his  own  responsibility,'  to 
hunt  for  accomplices,  he  found  his  theory  at  fault.  The 
bold  men  he  had  dreamed  of  refused  to  join  him  in  the  rash 
attempt  at  kidnapping  the  President,  and  were  too  conscien 
tious  to  meditate  murder.  All  those  who  presented  them 
selves  were  military  men,  unwilling  to  be  subordinate  to  a 
civilian  and  a  mere  play  actor,  and  the  mortified  bravo  found 
himself,  therefore,  compelled  to  sink  to  a  petty  rank  in  the 
plot  or  to  make  use  of  base  and  despicable  assistants.  His 
vanity  found  it  easier  to  compound  with  the  second  alterna 
tive  than  the  first 

"Here  began  the  first  resolve,  which,  in  its  mere  animal 
state,  we  may  name  courage.  Booth  found  that  a  tragedy 
in  real  life  could  no  more  be  enacted  without  greasy-faced 
and  knock- kneed  supernumeraries  than  upon  the  mimic 
stage.  Your  'First  Citizen,'  who  swings  a  stave  for  Marc 
Antony,  and  drinks  hard  porter  behind  the  flies,  is  very  like 


296  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

the  "bravo  of  real  life,  who  murders  between  his  cocktails  at 
the  nearest  "bar.  Wilkes  Booth  had  passed  the  ordeal  of  a 
garlicky  green-room,  and  did  not  shrink  from  the  broader 
and  ranker  green-room  of  real  life.  He  assembled  around 
him,  one  by  one,  the  cut-throats  at  whom  his  soul  would 
have  revolted,  except  that  he  had  become,  by  resolve,  a  cut 
throat  in  himself. 

"  About  this  time  certain  gentlemen  in  Canada  began  to 
be  unenviably  known.  I  make  no  charges  against  those 
whom  I  do  not  know,  but  simply  say  that  the  Confederate 
agents,  Jacob  Thompson,  Larry  McDonald,  Clement  Clay, 
and  some  others,  had  already  accomplished  enough  villainy 
to  make  Wilkes  Booth,  on  the  first  of  the  present  year,  be 
lieve  that  he  had  but  to  seek  an  interview  with  them. 

"  He  visited  the  provinces  once  certainly,  and  three  times 
it  is  believed,  stopping  in  Montreal  at  St.  Lawrence  Hall, 
and  banking  four  hundred  and  fifty-five  dollars  odd  at  the 
Ontario  Bank.  This  was  his  own  money.  I  have  myself 
seen  his  bank-book  with  the  single  entry  of  this  amount.  It 
was  found  in  the  room  of  Atzeroth  at  Kirkwood'  s  Hotel. 

uSome  one  or  all  of  these  agents  furnished  Booth  with  a 
murderer — the  fellow  Wood,  or  Payne,  who  stabbed  Mr. 
Seward,  and  was  caught  at  Mrs.  Surratt'  s  house  in  Washing 
ton.  He  was  one  of  three  Kentucky  brothers,  all  outlaws, 
and  had  himself,  it  is  believed,  accompanied  one  of  his 
brothers,  who  is  known  to  have  been  at  St.  Albans  on  the 
day  of  the  bank  delivery.  This  Payne,  besides  being  posi 
tively  identified  as  the  assassin  of  the  Sewards,  had  no 
friends  nor  haunts  in  Washington.  He  was  simply  a  dis 
patched  murderer,  and  after  the  night  of  the  crime  struck 
northward  for  the  frontier,  instead  of  southward  in  the  com 
pany  of  Booth.  The  proof  of  this  will  follow  in  the  course 
of  the  article. 

"Half  applauded,  half  rebuffed  by  the  rebel  agents  in 
Canada,  Booth's  impressions  of  his  visit  were  just  those 
which  would  whet  him  soonest  for  the  tragedy.  His  vanity 
had  been  fed  by  the  assurance  that  success  depended  upon 
.himself  alone,  and  that  as  he  had  the  responsibility  he 
would  absorb  the  fame ;  and  the  method  of  correspondence 


TOBACCO   AND   SLAVERY.  297 

was  of  that  dark  and  mysterious  shape  which  powerfully 
operated  upon  his  dramatic  temperament. 

' '  What  could  please  an  actor,  and  the  son  of  an  actor, 
better  than  to  mingle  as  a  principal  in  a  real  conspiracy,  the 
aims  of  which  were  pseudo-patriotic,  and  the  ends  so  as 
tounding,  that  at  its  coming  the  whole  globe  would  reel. 
Booth  reasoned  that  the  ancient  world  would  not  feel  more 
sensitively  the  death  of  Julius  Csesar,  than  the  new  the  sud 
den  taking  oif  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

"  And  so  he  grew  into  the  idea  of  murder.  It  became  his 
business  thought.  It  was  his  recreation  and  his  study.  He 
had  not  worked  half  so  hard  for  histrionic  success  as  for  his 
terrible  graduation  into  an  assassin.  He  had  fought  often  on 
the  boards,  and  had  seen  men  die  in  well-imitated  horror, 
with  flowing  blood  upon  the  keen  sword's  edge,  and  the 
strong  stride  of  mimic  victory  with  which  he  flourished  his 
weapon  at  the  closing  of  the  curtain.  He  embraced  con 
spiracy  like  an  old  diplomatist,  and  found  in  the  woman  and 
the  spot  subjects  for  emulation. 

"  Southeast  of  Washington  stretches  a  tapering  peninsula, 
composed  of  four  fertile  counties,  which  at  the  remote  tip 
make  Point  Lookout,  and  do  not  contain  any  town  within 
them  of  more  than  a  few  hundred  inhabitants.  Tobacco  has 
ruined  the  land  of  these,  and  slavery  has  ruined  the  people. 
Yet  in  the  beginning  they  were  of  that  splendid  stock  of 
Calvert  and  Lord  Baltimore,  but  retain  to-day  only  the  reli 
gion  of  the  peaceful  founder.  I  mention,  as  an  exceptional 
and  remarkable  fact,  that  every  conspirator  in  custody  is  by 
education  a  Catholic.  These  are  loyal  citizens  elsewhere, 
but  the  western  shore  of  Maryland  is  a  noxious  and  pestilen 
tial  place  for  patriotism. 

4 '  The  country  immediately  outside  of  the  District  of  Co 
lumbia,  to  the  south,  is  named  Prince  George's,  and  the 
pleasantest  village  of  this  county,  close  to  Washington,  is 
called  Surrattsville.  This  consists  of  a  few  cabins  at  a  cross 
road,  surrounding  a  fine  old  hotel,  the  master  whereof,  giv 
ing  the  settlement  his  name,  left  the  property  to  his  wife, 
who  for  a  long  time  carried  it  on  with  indifferent  success. 
Having  a  son  and  several  daughters,  she  moved  to  Wash 
ington  soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  left  the  tav- 


\ 

298  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

ern  to  a  trusty  friend — one  John  Lloyd.  Surrattsville  haa 
gained  nothing  in  patronage  or  business  from  the  war,  except 
that  it  became,  at  an  early  date,  a  rebel  post-office.  The 
great  secret  mail  from  Matthias  Creek,  Virginia,  to  Port 
Tobacco,  struck  Surrattsville,  and  thence  headed  off  to  the 
east  of  Washington,  going  meanderingly  north.  Of  this  post 
route  Mrs.  Surratt  was  a  manageress  ;  and  John  Lloyd,  when 
he  rented  her  hotel,  assumed  the  responsibility  of  looking 
out  for  the  mail,  as  well  as  the  duty  of  making  Mrs.  Surratt 
at  home  when  she  chose  to  visit  him. 

' l  So  Surrattsville,  only  ten  miles  from  Washington,  has 
been  throughout  the  war  a  seat  of  conspiracy.  It  was  like  a 
suburb  of  Richmond,  reaching  quite  up  to  the  rival  capital ; 
and  though  the  few  Unionists  on  tjie  peninsula,  knew  its 
reputation  well  enough,  nothing  of  the  sort  came  out  until 
after  the  murder. 

''Treason  never  found  a  better  agent  than  Mrs.  Surratt. 
She  was  a  large,  masculine,  self-possessed  female,  mistress 
of  her  house,  and  as  lithe  a  rebel  as  Belle  Boyd  or  Mrs. 
Greensborough.  She  had  not  the  flippancy  and  menace  of 
the  first,  nor  the  social  power  of  the  second  ;  but  the  rebellion 
has  found  no  fitter  agent. 

"At  her  country  tavern  and  Washington  home,  Booth 
was  made  welcome,  and  there  began  the  muttered  murder 
against  the  nation  and  mankind. 

"The  acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Surratt  in  Lower  Maryland 
undoubtedly  suggested  to  Booth  the  route  of  escape,  and 
made  him  known  to  his  subsequent  accomplices.  Last  fall 
he  visited  the  entire  region,  as  far  as  Leonardstown,  in  St. 
Mary's  County,  professing  to  buy  land,  but  really  making 
himself  informed  upon  the  rebel  post  stations,  with  all  the 
leading  affiliations  upon  whom  he  could  depend.  At  this 
time  he  bought  a  map,  a  fellow  to  which  I  have  seen  among 
Atzeroth's  effects,  published  at  Buffalo  for  the  rebel  govern 
ment,  and  marking  at  Imp-hazard  all  the  Maryland  villages, 
but  without  tracing  the  high-roads  at  all.  The  absence  of 
these  roads,  it  will  be  seen  hereafter,  very  nearly  misled 
Booth  during  his  crippled  flight. 

"When  Bo  )th  cast  around  him  for  assistants,  he  naturally 
selected  those  men  whom  he  could  control.  The  first  that 


BOOTH'S  THREE   SCHEMES.  299 

recommended  Mm  self  was  one  Harold,  a  youth  of  inane  and 
plastic  character,  carried  away  by  the  example  of  an  actor, 
and  full  of  execrable  quotations,  going  to  show  that  that  he 
was  an  imitator  of  the  master  spirit,  both  in  text  and  admira 
tion.  This  Harold  was  a  gunner,  and  therefore  versed  in 
arms  ;  he  had  traversed  the  whole  lower  portion  of  Mary 
land,  and  was  therefore  a  geographer  as  well  as  a  tool.  His 
friends  lived  at  every  farm-house  between  Washington  and 
]  ^eonards ville,  and  he  was  respectably  enough  connected,  so 
as  to  make  his  association  creditable  as  well  as  useful. 

"Young  Surratt  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  puissant 
spirit  in  the  scheme  ;  indeed,  all  design  and  influence  therein 
was  absorbed  by  Mrs.  Surratt  and  Booth.  The  latter  was 
the  head  and  heart  of  the  plot ;  Mrs.  Surratt  was  his  anchor, 
and  the  rest  of  the  boys  were  disciples  to  Iscariot  and  Jeze 
bel.  John  Surratt,  a  youth  of  strong  Southern  physiogno 
my,  beardless  and  lanky,  knew  of  the  murder  and  connived 
at  it.  '  Sam '  Arnold  and  one  McLaughlin  were  to  have 
been  parties  to  it,  but  backed  out  in  the  end.  They  all 
relied  upon  Mrs.  Surratt,  and  took  their  'cues'  from  Wilkes 
Booth. 

"The  conspiracy  had  its  own  time  and  kept  its  own 
counsel.  Murder,  except  among  the  principals,  was  seldom 
mentioned  except  by  genteel  implication.  But  they  all  pub 
licly  agreed  that  Mr.  Lincoln  ought  to  be  shot,  and  that  the 
North  was  a  race  of  fratricides.  Much  was  said  of  Brutus, 
and  Booth  repeated  heroic  passages,  to  the  delight  of  Harold, 
who  learned  them  also,  and  wondered  if  he  was  not  born  to 
greatness. 

"In  this  growing  darkness,  where  all  rehearsed  cold- 
hearted  murder,  Wilkes  Booth  grew  great  of  stature.  He 
had  found  a  purpose  consonant  with  his  evil  nature  and  bad 
influence  over  weak  men  ;  so  he  grew  moodier,  more  vigi 
lant,  more  plausible.  By  mien  and  temperament  he  was 
born  to  handle  a  stiletto.  We  have  nc  face  so  markedly 
Italian  ;  it  would  stand  for  Caesar  Borgia  any  day  in  the 
/ear.  All  the  rest  were  swayed  or  persuaded  by  Booth  ;  his 
schemes  were  three  in  order  : — 

"1st.  To  kidnap  the  President  and  Cabinet,  and  run  them 
South  or  blow  them  up. 


300  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

"  2d.  Kidnapping  failed,  to  murder  the  President  and  the 
rest,  and  seek  shelter  in  the  Confederate  capital. 

U3d  The  rebellion  failed,  to  be  its  avenger,  and  throw 
the  country  into  consternation,  while  he  escaped  by  the 
unfrequented  parts  of  Maryland. 

"  When  this  last  resolution  had  been  made,  the  plot  was 
both  contracted  and  extended.  There  were  made  two  dis 
tinct  circles  of  confidants,  those  aware  of  the  meditated  mur 
der,  and  those  who  might  shrink  from  murder,  though  will 
ing  accessories  for  a  lesser  object.  Two  colleagues  for  blood 
were  at  once  accepted,  Payne  and  Atzeroth. 

"The  former  I  have  sketched;  he  is  believed  to  have 
visited  Washington  once  before,  at  Booth's  citation  ;  for  the 
murder  was  at  first  fixed  for  the  day  of  inauguration.  Atze 
roth  was  a  fellow  of  German  descent,  who  had  led  a  despe 
rate  life  at  Port  Tobacco,  where  he  was  a  house-painter.  He 
had  been  a  blockade-runner  across  the  Potomac,  and  a  mail- 
carrier.  When  Booth  and  Mrs.  Surratt  broke  the  design  to 
him,  with  a  suggestion  that  there  was  wealth  in  it,  he  em 
braced  the  offer  at  once,  and  bought  a  dirk  and  pistol. 
Payne  also  came  from  the  North  to  Washington,  and,  as  fate 
would  have  it,  the  President  was  announced  to  appear  at 
Ford's  Theater  in  public.  Then  the  resolve  of  blood  was 
reduced  to  a  definite  moment. 

' '  On  the  night  before  the  crime,  Booth  found  one  on 
whom  he  could  rely.  John  Surratt  was  sent  northward  by 
his  mother  on  Thursday.  Sam  Arnold  and  McLaughlin, 
each  of  whom  was  to  kill  a  Cabinet  officer,  grew  pigeon- 
livered  and  ran  away.  Harold,  true  to  his  partiality,  lin 
gered  around  Booth  to  the  end ;  Atzeroth  went  so  far  as  to 
take  his  knife  and  pistol  to  Kirkwood's,  where  President 
Johnson  was  stopping,  and  hid  them  under  the  bed.  Bat 
either  his  courage  failed,  or  a  trifling  accident  deranged  his 
plan.  But  Payne,  a  professional  murderer,  stood  '  game,' 
and  fought  his  way  over  prostrate  figures  to  the  sick  victim's 
bed.  There  was  great  confusion  and  terror  among  the  tacit 
and  rash  copspirators  on  Thursday  night.  They  had  looked 
upon  the  plot  as  of  a  melodrama,  and  found  to  their  horror 
that  John  Wilkes  Booth  meant  to  do  murder. 

u  Six  weeks  before  the  murder,  young  John  Surratt  had 


THE  CARBINES— LLOYD— ATZEROTH  301 

taken  two  splendid  repeating  carbines  to  Surrattsville,  and 
told  John  Lloyd  to  secrete  them.  The  latter  made  a  hole  in 
the  wainscoting  and  suspended  them  from  strings,  so  that 
they  fell  within  the  plastered  wall  of  the  room  below.  On 
the  very  afternoon  of  the  murder, Mrs.  Surratt  was  driven  to 
Surrattsville,  and  she  told  John  Lloyd  to  have  the  carbines 
ready,  because  they  would  be  called  for  that  night.  Harold 
was  made  quartermaster,  and  hired  the  horses.  He  and 
Atzeroth  were  mounted  between  eight  o'clock  and  the  time 
of  the  murder,  and  riding  about  the  streets  together. 

"The  whole  party  was  prepared  for  a  long  ride,  as  their 
spurs  and  gauntlets  show.  It  may  have  been  their  design  to 
ride  in  company  to  the  Lower  Potomac,  and  by  their  num 
bers  exact  subsistence  and  transportation. 

"Lloyd,  I  may  interpolate,  ordered  his  wife,  a  few  days 
before  the  murder,  to  go  on  a  visit  to  Allen's  Fresh.  She 
says  she  does  not  know  why  she  was  so  sent  away,  but 
swears  that  it  is  so.  Harold,  three  weeks  before  the  murder, 
visited  Port  Tobacco,  and  said  that  tb.^  next  time  the  boys 
heard  of  him  he  would  be  in  Spain  ;  he  added  that  with 
Spain  there  was  no  extradition  treaty.  Re  said  at  Surratts 
ville  that  he  meant  to  make  a  barrel  of  money,  or  his  neck 
would  stretch. 

"Atzeroth  said  that  if  he  ever  came  to  Fort  Tobacco  again 
he  would  be  rich  enough  to  buy  the  whole  place. 

"  Wilkes  Booth  told  a  friend  to  go  to  Fold's  on  Friday 
night  and  see  the  best  acting  in  the  world. 

' '  At  Ford' s  Theater,  on  Friday  night,  there  were  many 
standers  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  door,  and  along  the 
dress  circle  in  the  direction  of  the  private  box  where  the 
President  sat. 

"The  play  went  on  pleasantly,  \ hough  Mr.  Wilkps Booth, 
an  observer  of  the  audience,  visited  the  stage  arid  took  not* 
of  the  position.  His  alleged  associate,  the  s  cage-carpenter, 
then  received  quiet  orders  to  clear  the  passage  by  the  wings 
from  the  prompter1  s  post  to  the  stage  dcor.  All  this  time, 
Mr.  Lincoln,  in  his  family  circle,  unconscious  of  the  death 
that  crowded  fast  upon  him,  witnessed  the  pleasantry  and 
smiled,  and  felt  heartful  of  gentleness. 


302  UNITED  STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

"  Suddenly  there  was  a  murmur  near  the  audience  doorT 
as  of  a  man  speaking  above  his  bound.  He  said  : — 

"  '  Nine  o'clock  and  forty-live  minutes  !' 

"  These  words  were  reiterated  from  mouth  to  mouth  until 
they  passed  the  theater  door,  and  were  heard  upon  the  side 
walk. 

"  Directly  a  voice  cried,  in  the  same  slightly  raised  mono 
tone— 

"  '  Nine  o'clock  and  fifty  minutes  !' 

"This  also  passed  from  man  to  man,  until  it  touched  the 
street  like  a  shudder. 

"'Nine  o'clock  and  fifty-five  minutes!'  said  the  same 
relentless  voice,  after  the  next  interval,  each  of  which  nar 
rowed  to  a  lesser  span  the  life  of  the  good  President. 

' '  Ten  o'  clock  here  sounded,  and  conspiring  echo  said  in 
re  verberation — 

"'Ten  o'clock  !' 

"  So, like  a  creeping  thing,  from  lip  to  lip  went — 

"  '  Ten  o'clock  and  five  minutes  !' 

"An  interval. 

"  '  Ten  o'clock  and  ten  minutes  !' 

"At  this  instant  Wilkes  Booth  appeared  in  the  door  of 
the  theater,  and  the  men  who  had  repeated  the  time  so  faith 
fully  and  so  ominously,  scattered  at  his  coming  as  at  some 
warning  phantom. 

"All  this  is  so  dramatic  that  I  fear  to  excite  a  laugh  when 
I  write  it.  But  it  is  true  and  proven,  and  I  do  not  say  it, 
but  report  it. 

"  All  evil  deeds  go  wrong.  While  the  click  of  the  pistol, 
taking  the  President's  life,  went  like  a  pang  through  the 
theater,  Payne  was  spilling  blood  in  Mr.  Se ward's  house 
from  threshold  to  sick-chamber.  But  Booth's  broken  leg 
delayed  him  or  made  him  lose  his  general  calmness,  and  he 
and  Harold  left  Payne  to  his  fate. 

"I  have  not  adverted  to  the  hole  bored  with  a  gimlet  in 
the  entry  door  of  Mr.  Lincoln' s  box,  and  cut  out  with  a  pen 
knife.  The  theory  that  the  pistol-ball  of  Booth  passed 
through  this  hole  is  now  exploded.  When  Booth  leaped 
from  the  box  he  strode  straight  across  the  stage  by  the  foot 
lights,  reaching  the  prompter's  post,  which  is  immediately 


PAYNE'S   FLIGHT   AND   CAPTURE.  303 

behind  that  private  box  opposite  to  Mr.  Lincoln.  From  this 
box  to  the  stage-door  in  the  rear,  the  passage-way  leads 
behind  the  ends  of  the  scenes,  and  is  generally  either  closed 
up  by  one  or  more  withdrawn  scenes,  or  so  narrow  that  only 
by  doubling  and  turning  sidewise  can  one  pass  along.  On 
this  fearful  night,  however,  the  scenes  were  so  adjusted  to 
the  murderer's  design  that  he  had  a  free  aisle  from  the  foot 
of  the  stage  to  the  exit-door. 

"Within  fifteen  minutes  after  the  murder  the  wires  were 
severed  entirely  round  the  city,  excepting  only  a  secret  wire 
for  Government  uses,  Avhich  leads  to  Old  Point.  I  am  told 
that  by  this  wire  the  Government  reached  the  fortifications 
around  Washington,  first  telegraphing  all  the  v*ray  to  Old 
Point,  and  then  back  to  the  out-lying  forts.  This  informa 
tion  comes  to  me  from  so  many  credible  channels  that  I  must 
concede  it. 

"  Payne  having,  as  he  thought,  made  an  end  of  Mr. 
Seward,  which  would  have  been  the  case  but  for  Robinson, 
the  nurse,  mounted  his  horse,  and  attempted  to  find  Booth. 
But  the  town  was  in  alarm,  and  he  galloped  at  once  for  the 
open  country,  taking,  as  he  imagined,  the  proper  road  for 
the  East  Branch.  He  rode  at  a  killing  pace,  and  when  near 
Port  Lincoln,  on  the  Baltimore  pike,  his  horse  threw  him 
headlong.  Afoot  and  bewildered,  he  resolved  to  return  to 
the  city,  whose  lights  he  could  plainly  see  ;  but  before  doing 
so  he  concealed  himself  some  time,  and  made  some  almost 
absurd  efforts  to  disguise  himself.  Cutting  a  cross  section 
from  the  woolen  undershirt  which  covered  his  muscular 
arm,  he  made  a  rude  cap  of  it,  and  threw  away  his  bloody 
coat.  This  has  since  been  found  in  the  woods,  and  blood 
has  been  found  also  on  his  bosom  and  sleeves.  He  also 
spattered  himself  plentifully  with  mud  and  clay,  and  taking 
an  abandoned  pick  from  the  deserted  iutrenchments  near  by, 
he  struck  out  at  once  for  Washington. 

"By  the  providence  which  always  attends  murder,  hf» 
reached  Mrs.  Surratt's  door  just  as  the  officers  of  the  Gov 
ernment  were  arresting  her.  They  seized  Payne  at  once, 
who  had  an  awkward  lie  to  urge  in  his  defense — that  he  had 
come  there  to  dig  a  trench.  That  night  he  dug  a  trench  deep 
and  broad  enough  for  them  both  to  lie  in  forever.  They 


304  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

washed  his  hands,  and  found  them  soft  and  womanish  ;  hia 
pockets  contained  tooth  and  nail-brushes,  and  a  delicate 
pocket-knife.  All  this  apparel  consorted  ill  with  his  as 
sumed  character. 

"  Coarse,  and  hard,  and  calm,  Mrs.  Surratt  shut  up  her 
house  after  the  murder,  and  waited  with  her  daughters  till 
the  officers  came.  She  was  imperturbable,  and  rebuked  her 
girls  for  weeping,  and  would  have  gone  to  jail  like  a  statue, 
but  that  in  her  extremity  Payne  knocked  at  her  door.  He 
had  come,  he  said,  to  dig  a  ditch  for  Mrs.  Surratt,  whom  he 
very  well  knew.  But  Mrs.  Surratt  protested  that  she  had 
never  seen  the  man  at  all,  and  had  no  ditch  to  clean.  . 

"  'How  fortunate,  girls,'  she  said,  'that  these  officers  are 
here  ;  this  man  might  have  murdered  us  all.5 

"Her  effrontery  stamps  her  as  worthy  of  companionship 
with  Booth.  Payne  has  been  identified  by  a  lodger  of  Mrs. 
Surratt' s  as  having  twice  visited  the  house,  under  the  name 
of  Wood. 

"Atzeroth  had  a  room  almost  directly  over  Vice-Presi- 
dent  Johnson' s.  He  had  all  the  materials  to  do  murder,  but 
lost  spirit  or  opportunity.  He  ran  away  so  hastily,  that  all 
his  arms  and  baggage  were  discovered ;  a  tremendous  bowie 
knife  and  a  Colt' -3  cavalry  revolver  were  found  between  the 
mattresses  of  his  bed.  Booth's  coat  was  also  found  there, 
showing  conspired  flight  in  company,  and  in  it  three  boxes 
of  cartridges,  a  map  of  Maryland,  gauntlets  for  riding,  a  spur, 
and  a  handkerchief  marked  with  the  name  of  Booth's  mother 
—a  mother's  souvenir  for  a  murderer's  pocket. 

"  Atzeroth  fled  alone,  and  was  found  at  the  house  of  his 
uncle,  in  Montgomery  County,  Maryland.  I  do  not  know 
that  any  instrument  of  murder  has  ever  made  me  thrill  as» 
when  I  drew  his  terrible  bowie-knife  from  its  sheath. 

"I  come  now  to  the  ride  out  of  the  city  by  the  chief 
assassin  and  his  dupe.  Harold  met  Booth  immediately  after 
the  crime  in  the  next  street,  and  they  rode  at  a  gallop  past 
the  Patent  Office  and  over  Capitol  Hill. 

"As  they  crossed  the  Eastern  Branch  at  Uniontown, 
Booth  gave  his  proper  name  to  the  officer  at  the  bridge. 
This,  which  would  seem  to  have  been  foolish,  was,  in 
reality,  very  shrewd.  The  officers  believed  that  one  of 


. 


FLIGHT  OF  BOOTH  AND  HAROLD. 


SUKRATTSVILLE— DR.  MUDD.  305 

Booth's  accomplices  had  given  this  name  in  ordir  to  put 
them  out  of  the  real  Booth's  track.  So  they  made  efforts 
elsewhere,  and  Booth  got  a  start.  At  midnight,  precisely, 
the  two  horsemen  stopped  at  Surrattsville,  Booth  remaining 
on  his  nag,  while  Harold  descended  and  knocked  lustily  at 
the  door.  Lloyd,  the  landlord,  came  down  at  once,  when 
Harold  pushed  past  him  into  the  bar,  and  obtained  a  bottle 
of  whisky,  some  of  which  he  gave  to  Booth  immediately. 
While  Booth  was  drinking,  Harold  went  up  stairs  and 
brought  down  one  of  the  carbines.  Lloyd  started  to  get 
the  other,  but  Harold  said  : — 

" '  We  don't  want  it ;  Booth  has  broken  ins  leg,  and  can't 
carry  it.' 

"  So  the  second  carbine  remained  in  the  hall,  where  the 
officers  afterward  found  it. 

"As  the  two  horsemen  started  to  go  off,  Booth  cried  out 
to  Lloyd : — 

"  '  Don't  you  want  to  hear  some  news  ?' 

"  'I  don't  care  much  about  it,'  cried  Lloyd,  by  his  own 
account. 

"'We  have  murdered,'  said  Booth,  'the  President  and 
Secretary  of  State.' 

"And,  with  this  horrible  confession,  Booth  and  Harold 
dashed  away  in  the  midnight,  across  Prince  George's  County. 

"On  Saturday,  before  sunrise,  Booth  and  Harold,  who 
had  ridden  all  night  without  stopping  elsewhere,  reached 
the  house  of  Dr.  Mudd,  three  miles  from  Bryantown.  They 
contracted  with  him,  for  twenty-five  dollars  in  greenbacks, 
to  set  the  broken  leg.  Harold,  who  knew  Dr.  Mudd,  intro 
duced  Booth  under  another  name,  and  stated  that  he  had 
fallen  from  his  horse  during  the  night.  The  doctor  re 
marked  of  Booth  that  he  draped  the  lower  part  of  his  face 
while  the  leg  was  being  set ;  he  was  silent,  and  in  pain. 
Having  no  splints  in  the  house,  they  split  up  an  old-fashioned 
wooden  band- box  and  prepared  them.  The  doctor  was 
assisted  by  an  Englishman,  who  at  the  same  time  began  to 
hew  out  a  pair  of  crutches.  The  inferior  bone  of  the  left  leg 
was  broken  vertically  across,  and,  because  vertically,  it  did 
Dot  yield  when  the  crippled  man  walked  upon  it. 

"The  riding  boot  of  Booth  had  to  be  cut  from  his  foot; 

20 


306  UNITED    STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

within  were  the  words  '  J.  Wilkes.'  Tlie  doctor  says  he  did 
not  notice  these.  The  two  men  waited  around  the  house  all 
day,  but  toward  evening  they  slipped  their  horses  from  the 
stable  and  rode  away  in  the  direction  of  Allen's  Fresh. 

"Below  Ervantown  run  certain  deep  arid  slimy  swamps. 
Along  the  belt  of  these  Booth  and  Harold  picked  up  a  negro 
named  Swan,  who  volunteered  to  show  them  the  road  for 
two  dollars.  They  gave  him  five  more  to  show  them  the 
route  to  Allen's  Fresh;  but  really  wished,  as  their  actions 
intimated,  to  gain  the  house  of  one  Sam  Coxe,  a  notorious 
rebel,  and  probably  well  advised  of  the  plot.  They  reached 
the  house  at  midnight.  It  is  a  fine  dwelling,  one  of  the  best 
in  Maryland  ;  and  after  hallooing  for  some  time,  Coxe  came 
down  to  the  door  himself.  As  soon  as  he  opened  it,  and 
beheld  who  the  strangers  were,  he  instantly  blew  out  the 
candle  he  held  in  his  hand,  and,  without  a  word,  pulled 
them  into  the  room,  the  negro  remaining  in  the  yaid.  The 
confederates  remained  in  Coxe's  house  till  4  A.  M.,  during 
which  time  the  negro  saw  them  eat  and  drink  heartily  ;  but 
when  they  reappeared  they  spoke  in  a  loud  tone,  so  that 
Swan  could  hear  them,  against  the  hospitality  of  Coxe.  All 
this  was  meant  to  influence  the  darkey ;  but  their  motives 
were  as  apparent  as  their  words.  He  conducted  them  three 
miles  further  on,  when  they  told  him  that  now  they  knew 
the  way,  and  giving  him  five  dollars  more,  making  twelve 
in  all,  told  him  to  go  back. 

"But  when  the  negro,  in  the  dusk  of  the  morning,  looked 
after  them  as  he  receded,  he  saw  that  both  horses'  heads 
were  turned  once  more  toward  Coxe's,  and  it  was  this  man, 
doubtless,  who  harbored  the  fugitives  from  Sunday  to 
Thursday,  aided,  possibly,  by  such  neighbors  as  the  Wil 
sons  and  Adamses. 

"At  the  point  where  Booth  crossed  the  Potomac  the 
shores  are  very  shallow,  and  one  must  wade  out  some  dis 
tance  to  where  a  boat  will  float,  A  white  man  came  up  here 
with  a  canoe  on  Friday,  and  tied  it  by  a  stone  anchor.  Be 
tween  seven  and  eight  o'clock  it  disappeared,  and  in  the 
afternoon  some  men  at  work  on  Methxy  Creek,  in  Virginia, 
saw  Booth  and  Harold  land,  tie  the  boat's  rope  to  a  stone  and 
fling  it  ashore,  and  strike  at  once  across  a  ploughed  field  foi 


IMPORTANT  TESTIMONY— LOYETT— MAJOR  O'BIERNE.    3()9 

King  George  Court  House.  Many  folks  entertained  them, 
without  doubt,  but  we  positively  hear  of  them  next  at  Port 
Royal  Ferry,  and  then  at  Garrett's  farm. 

"  The  few  Unionists' of  Prince  George's  and  Charles  Coun 
ties,  long  persecuted  and  intimidated,  came  forward  and 
gave  important  testimony. 

"Among  these  was  one  Roby,  a  very  fat  and  very  zeal 
ous  old  gentleman,  whose  professions  were  as  ample  as  his 
perspiration.  He  told  the  officers  of  the  secret  meetings  for 
conspiracy's  sake  at  Lloyd's  Hotel,  and  although  a  very 
John  Gilpin  on  horseback,  rode  here  and  there  to  his  great 
loss  of  wind  and  repose,  fastening  fire  coals  upon  the  guilty 
or  suspected. 

' '  Lloyd  was  turned  over  to  Mr.  Cottingham,  who  had 
established  a  jail  at  Robytown ;  that  night  his  house. was 
searched,  and  Booth's  carbine  found  hidden  in  the  wall. 
Three  days  afterward,  Lloyd  himself  confessed. 

"The  little  party,  under  the  untiring  Lovett,  examined 
all  the  farm-houses  below  Washington,  resorting  to  many 
shrewd  expedients,  and  taking  note  of  the  great  swamps  to 
the  east  of  Port  Tobacco  ;  they  reached  Newport  at  last,  and 
fastened  tacit  guilt  upon  many  residents. 

"Beyond  Bryantown  they  overhauled  the  residence  of 
Dr.  Mtidd,  and  found  Booth's  boots.  This  was  before  Lloyd 
confessed,  and  was  the  first  positive  trace  the  officers  had 
that  they  were  really  close  upon  the  assassins. 

"I  do  not  recall  any  thing  more  wild  and  startling  than 
this  vague  and  dangerous  exploration  of  a  dimly  known, 
hostile,  and  ignorant  country.  To  these  few  detectives  we 
owe  much  of  the  subsequent  successful  precaution  of  the 
pursuit.  They  were  the  Hebrew  spies. 

"By  this  time  the  country  was  filling  up  with  soldiers, 
but  previously  a  second  memorable  detective  party  went  out 
under  the  personal  command  of  Major  O'Bierne.  It  consist 
ed,  besides  that  officer,  of  Lee,  D'Angelis,  Callahan,  Hoey, 
Bostwick,  Hanover,  Bevins,  and  McIIenry,  and  embarked 
at  Washington  on  a  steam-tug  for  Chappell's  Point.  Here  a 
military  station  had  long  been  established  for  the  prevention 
of  blockade  and  mail  running  across  the  Potomac.  It  was 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Laverty,  and  garrisoned  by  sixty- 


FITTED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

live  men.  On  Tuesday  night  Major  O'Bierne's  party  readied 
this  place,  and  soon  afterward  a  telegraph  station  was  estab 
lished  here  by  an  invaluable  man  to  the  expedition,  Captain 
Beckwith,  General  Grant' s  chief  cipher  operator,  who  tapped 
the  Point  Lookout  wire,  and  placed  the  War  Department 
within  a  moment's  reach  of  the  theater  of  events. 

"  Major  O'Bierne's  party  started  at  once,  over  the  worst 
road  in  the  world,  for  Port  Tobacco. 

' '  If  any  place  in  the  world  is  utterly  given  over  to  de 
pravity,  it  is  Port  Tobacco.  From  this  town,  by  a  sinuous 
creek,  there  is  flat-boat  navigation  to  the  Potomac,  and 
across  that  river  to  Mattox  Creek.  Before  the  war,  Port 
Tobacco  was  the  seat  of  a  tobacco  aristocracy  and  a  haunt  of 
negro  traders.  It  passed  very  naturally  into  a  rebel  post  for 
blockade-runners  and  a  rebel  post-office  general.  Gambling, 
corner-fighting,  and  shooting  matches  were  its  lyceum  edu 
cation.  Violence  and  ignorance  had  every  suffrage  in  the 
town.  Its  people  were  smugglers,  to  all  intents,  and  there 
was  neither  Bible  nor  geography  to  the  whole  region  adja 
cent.  Assassination  was  never  very  unpopular  at  Port  To 
bacco,  and  when  its  victim  was  a  Northern  President,  it 
became  quite  heroic.  A  month  before  the  murder,  a  provost- 
marshal  near  by  was  slain  in  his  bed-chamber.  For  such  a 
town  and  district,  the  detective  police  were  the  only  effective 
missionaries. 

"The  hotel  here  is  called  the  Brawner  House ;  it  has  a 
bar  in  the  nethermost  cellar,  and  its  patrons,  carousing  in 
that  imperfect  light,  look  like  the  denizens  of  some  burglar' s 
crib,  talking  robbery  between  their  cups  ;  its  dining-room  is 
dark  and  tumble-down,  and  the  cuisine  bears  traces  of  Kaffir 
origin  ;  a  barbecue  is  nothing  to  a  dinner  there.  The  court 
house  of  Port  Tobacco  is  the  most  superfluous  house  in  the 
place,  except  the  church.  It  stands  in  the  center  of  the 
town,  in  a  square,  and  the  dwellings  lie  about  it  closely,  as 
if  to  throttle  justice.  Five  hundred  people  exist  in  Port 
Tobacco  ;  life  there  reminds  me,  in  connection  with  the 
slimy  river  and  the  adjacent  swamps,  of  the  great  reptile 
period  of  the  world,  when  iguanodons,  and  pterodactyls,  and 
plesiosauri  ate  each  other. 

"Into  this  abstract  of  Gomorrah  the  few  detectives  went 


MRS.  WHEELER— CRANGLE— FRUITLESS   SEARCH.         311 

like  angels  who  visited  Lot.  They  pretended  to  be  inquiring 
for  friends,  or  to  have  business  designs,  and  the  first  people 
they  heard  of  were  Harold  and  Atzeroth.  The  latter  had 
visited  Port  Tobacco  three  weeks  before  the  murder,  and 
intimated  at  that  time  his  design  of  fleeing  the  country. 
But  everybody  denied  having  seen  him  subsequent  to  the 
crime. 

"Atzeroth  had  been  in  town  just  prior  to  the  crime.  He 
had  -been  living  with  a  widow  woman,  named  Mrs.  Wheeler, 
and  she  was  immediately  called  upon  by  Major  O'Bierne. 
He  did  not  tell  her  what  Atzeroth  had  done,  but  vaguely 
hinted  that  he  had  committed  some  terrible  crime,  and  that 
since  he  had  done  her  wrong,  she  could  vindicate  both  her 
self  and  justice  by  telling  his  whereabouts.  The  woman 
admitted  that  Atzeroth  had  been  her  bane,  but  she  loved 
him,  and  refused  to  betray  him. 

' '  His  trunk  was  found  in  her  garret,  and  in  it  the  key 
to  his  paint  shop  in  Port  Tobacco.  The  latter  was  fruitlessly 
searched,  but  the  probable  whereabouts  of  Atzeroth  in  Mont 
gomery  County  obtained,  and  Major  O'Bierne  telegraphing 
there  immediately,  the  desperate  fellow  was  found  and 
locked  up.  A  man  named  Crangle,  who  had  succeeded 
Atzeroth  in  Mrs.  Wheeler's  pliable  affections,  was  arrested 
at  once  and  put  in  jail.  A  number  of  disloyal  people  were 
indicated  or  "spotted"  as  in  no  wise  angry  at  the  Presi 
dent's  taking  off,  and  for  all  such  a  provost  prison  was 
established. 

"A  few  miles  from  Port  Tobacco  dwelt  a  solitary  woman, 
who,  when  questioned,  said  that  for  many  nights  she  had 
heard,  after  she  had  retired  to  bed,  a  man  enter  her  cellar, 
and  be  there  all  night,  departing  before  dawn.  Major 
O'Bierne  and  the  detectives  ordered  her  to  place  a  lamp  in 
her  window  the  next  night  she  heard  him  enter  ;  and  at  dark 
they  established  a  cordon  of  armed  officers  around  the  place. 
At  midnight  punctually  she  exhibited  the  light,  when  the 
officers  broke  into  the  house  and  thoroughly  searched  it, 
without  result.  Yet  the  woman  positively  asserted  that  she 
had  heard  the  man  enter. 

"  It  was  afterward  found  that  she  was  of  diseased  mind. 

"By  this  time  the  military  had  come  up  in  considerable 


312  UNITED  STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

numbers,  and  Major  O'Bierne  was  enabled  to  confer  with 
Major  "Wait,  of  the  Eighth  Illinois. 

"The  major  had  pushed  on,  on  Monday  night,  to  Leon- 
ardstown,  and  pretty  well  overhauled  that  locality. 

"  It  was  at  this  time  that  preparations  were  made  to  hunt 
the  swamps  around  Chapmantown,  Bethtown,  and  Allen's 
Fresh.  Booth  had  been  entirely  lost  since  his  departure 
from  Mudd's  house,  and  it  was  believed  that  he  had  either 
pushed  on  for  the  Potomac  or  taken  to  the  swamps.  The 
officers  sagaciously  determined  to  follow  him  to  the  one,  and 
to  explore  the  other. 

"The  swamps  tributary  to  the  various  branches  of  the 
Wicomico  River,  of  which  the  chief  feeder  is  Allen's  Creek, 
bear  various  names,  such  as  Jordan's  Swamp,  AtchaH's 
Swamp,  and  Scrub  Swamp.  There  are  dense  growths  of 
dogwood,  gum,  and  beech,  planted  in  sluices  of  water  and 
bog,  and  their  width  varies  from  a  half  mile  to  four  miles, 
while  their  length  is  upward  of  sixteen  miles.  Frequent 
deep  ponds  dot  this  wilderness  place,  with  here  and  there  a 
stretch  of  dry  soil,  but  no  human  being  inhabits  the  malari 
ous  extent ;  even  a  hunted  murderer  would  shrink  from 
hiding  there.  Serpents  and  slimy  lizards  are  the  only  living 
denizens  ;  sometimes  the  coon  takes  refuge  in  this  desert 
from  the  hounds,  and  in  the  soft  mud  a  thousand  odorous 
muskrats  delve,  and  now  and  then  a  tremulous  otter.  But 
not  even  the  hunted  negro  dare  to  fathom  the  treacherous 
clay,  nor  make  himself  a  fellow  of  the  slimy  reptiles  which 
reign  absolute  in  this  terrible  solitude.  Here  the  soldiers 
prepared  to  seek  for  the  President' s  assassins,  and  no  search 
of  the  kind  has  ever  been  so  thorough  and  patient.  The 
Shawnee,  in  his  stronghold  of  despair  in  the  heart  of  the 
Okeefenokee,  would  scarcely  have  changed  homes  with 
Wilkes  Booth  and  David  Harold,  hiding  in  this  inhuman 
country. 

"The  military  forces  deputed  to  pursue  the  fugitives 
were  seven  hundred  men  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry,  six 
hundred  men  of  the  Twenty-second  Colored  Troops,  and  one 
hundred  men  of  the  Sixteenth  New  York.  These  swept  the 
swamps  by  detachments,  the  mass  of  them  dismounted,  with 
cavalry  at  the  belts  of  clearings,  interspersed  with  detectives 


SEARCHING    THE   SWAMPS— A    RUSE.  313 

at  frequent  intervals  in  the  rear.  They  first  formed  a  strong 
picket  cordon  entirely  around  the  swamps,  and  then,  drawn 
up  in  two  orders  of  battle,  advanced  boldly  into  the  bog  by 
two  lines  of  march.  One  party  swept  the  swamps  longitu 
dinally,  the  other  pushed  straight  across  their  smallest 
diameter. 

"A  similar  march  has  not  been  made  during  the  war; 
the  soldiers  were  only  a  few  paces  apart,  and  in  steady  order 
they  took  the  ground  as  it  came,  now  plunging  to  their  arm- 
/pits  in  foul  sluices  of  gangrened  water,  now  hopelessly  sub 
merged  in  slime,  now  attacked  by  legions  of  wood-ticks,  now 
tempting  some  unfaithful  log  or  greenishly  solid  morass,  and 
plunging  to  the  tip  of  the  skull  in  poisonous  stagnation  ;  the 
tree  boughs  rent  their  uniforms  ;  they  came  out  upon  dry 
land  many  of  them  without  a  rag  of  garment,  scratched,  and 
gashed,  and  spent,  repugnant  to  themselves,  and  disgusting 
to  those  who  saw  them  ;  but  not  one  trace  of  Booth  or  Har 
old  was  anywhere  found.  Wherever  the}'  might  be,  the 
swamps  did  not  contain  them. 

tk  While  all  this  was  going  on, a  force  started  from  Point 
Lookout,  and  swept  the  narrow  necks  of  St.  Mary's  quite  up 
to  Medley's  Neck.  To  complete  the  search  in  this  part  of 
the  country, Colonel  Wells  and  Major  O'Bierne  started,  with 
a  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  for  Chappell's  Point.  They 
took  the  entire  peninsula,  a&  before,  and  marched  in  close 
skirmish  line  across  it,  but  without  finding  any  thing  of 
note.  The  manner  of  inclosing  a  house  was  by  cavalry 
advances,  which  held  all  the  avenues  till  mounted  detectives 
came  up.  Many  strange  and  ludicrous  adventures  occurred 
on  each  of  these  expeditions.  While  the  forces  were  going 
up  Cobb's  Neck  there  was  a  counter  force  coming  down 
from  Allen' s  Fresh. 

"Major  O'Bierne  started  for  Leonardstown  with  his  de 
tective  force,  and  played  off  Laverty  as  Booth,  and  Hoey  as 
Harold.  These  two  advanced  to  farm-houses  and  gave  their 
assumed  names,  asking  at  the  same  time  for  assistance  and 
shelter.  They  were  generally  avoided,  except  by  one  man 
named  Claggert,  who  told  them  they  might  hide  in  the  woods 
behind  his  house.  When  Claggert  was  arrested,  however, 
he  stated  that  he  meant  to  hide  only  to  give  them  up.  While 


314  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

on  tliis  adventure,  a  man  who  had  heard  of  the  reward  came 
very  near  shooting  Laverty.  The  ruse  now  became  hazard 
ous,  and  the  detectives  resumed  their  real  characters. 

' '  One  Mills,  a  rebel  -mail-carrier,  also  arrested,  saw  Booth 
and  Harold  lurking  along  the  river  bank  on  Friday ;  he 
referred  Major  O'Bierne  to  one  Claggert,  a  rebel,  as  having 
seen  them  also  ;  but  Claggert  held  his  tongue  and  went  to 
jail.  On  Saturday  night,  Major  O'Bierne,  thus  assured,  also 
crossed  the  Potomac  with  his  detectives  to  Boone's  farm, 
where  the  fugitives  had  landed.  While  collecting  informa 
tion  here,  a  gunboat  swung  up  the  stream,  and  threatened  to 
open  tire  on  the  party. 

"  It  was  now  night,  and  all  the  party  worn  to  the  ground 
with  long  travel  and  want  of  sleep.  Lieutenant  Laverty' s 
men  went  a  short  distance  down  the  country  and  gave  up, 
and  Major  O'Bierne,  with  a  single  man,  pushed  all  night  to 
King  George's  Court-House,  and  next  day,  Sunday,  re-em 
barked  foj  Chappell's  Point.  Hence  he  telegraphed  his 
information,  and  asked  permission  to  pursue,  promising  to 
catch  the  assassins  before  they  reached  Port  Royal. 

"This  the  department  refused.  Colonel  Baker's  men 
were  delegated  to  make  the  pursuit  with  the  able  Lieutenant 
Doherty  ;  and  O'Bierne,  who  was  the  most  active  and  suc 
cessful  spirit  in  the  chase,  returned  to  Washington,  cheerful 
and  contented." 

No  lapse  of  time,  nor  varied  experience,  can  ever  efface 
the  memory  of  the  hour  at  headquarters  when  the  following 
was  penned  :— 

"  The  face  of  Lafayette  Baker,  Colonel,  and  Chief  of  the 
Secret  Service,  overlooks  me.  He  has  played  the  most  per 
ilous  parts  of  the  war,  and  is  the  captor  of  the  late  President' s 
murderer.  The  story  that  I  am  to  tell  you,  as  he  and  his 
trusty  dependants  told  it  to  me,  will  be  aptly  commenced 
here,  where  the  net  was  woven  which  took  the  dying  life  of 
Wilkes  Booth. 

"When  the  murdering  occurred,  Colonel  Baker  was 
absent  from  Washington.  He  returned  on  the  third  morning 
and  was  at  once  brought  by  Secretary  Stanton  to  join  the  hue 
and  cry  against  the  escaped  Booth.  The  sagacious  detective 
lourned  that  nearly  ten  thousand  cavalry,  and  one-fourth 


PLANNING  THE  CAPTURE  OF  BOOTH. 


CAPTURE  OF  ATZEROTH  AXD  DR.  MUDD.       317 

as  many  policemen,  had  been  meantime  scouring,  without 
plan  or  compass,  the  whole  territory  of  Southern  Maryland. 
They  were  treading  on  each  others'  heels,  and  mixing  up 
the  thing  so  badly,  that  the  best  place  for  the  culprits  to 
have  gone  would  have  been  in  the  very  midst  of  their  pur 
suers.  Baker  at  once  possessed  himself  of  the  little  the  War 
Department  had  learned,  and  started  immediately  to  take 
the  usual  detective  measures,  till  then  neglected,  of  offering 
a  reward,  and  getting  out  photographs  of  the  suspected  ones. 
He  then  dispatched  a  few  chosen  detectives  to  certain  vital 
points,  and  awaited  results. 

"  The  lirst  of  these  was  the  capture  of  Atzeroth.  Others, 
like  the  taking  of  Dr.  Mudd,  simultaneously  occurred. 
But  the  district  suspected  being  remote  from  the  railway 
routes,  and  broken  by  no  telegraph  station,  the  Colonel,  to 
place  himself  nearer  the  theater  of  events,  ordered  an  ope 
rator,  with  the  necessary  instrument,  to  tap  the  wire  running 
to  Point  Lookout,  near  Chappell's  Point,  and  send  him 
prompt  messages. 

"The  same  steamer  which  took  down  the  operator  and 
two  detectives,  brought  back  one  of  the  same  detectives  and 
a  negro.  This  negro,  taken  to  Colonel  Baker' s  office,  stated 
so  positively  that  he  had  seen  Booth  and  another  man  cross 
the  Potomac  in  a  fishing  boat,  while  he  was  looking  down 
upon  them  from  a  bank,  that  the  Colonel  was  at  first  skep 
tical  ;  but,  when  examined,  the  negro  answered  so  readily 
and  intelligently,  recognizing  the  man  from  the  photographs, 
that  Baker  knew  at  last  that  he  had  the  true  scent. 

"  Straightway  he  sent  to  General  Hancock  for  twenty-five 
men,  and  while  the  order  was  going  drew  down  his  coast 
survey  maps,  with  that  quick  detective  intuition  amounting 
almost  to  inspiration.  He  cast  upon  the  probable  route  and 
destination  of  the  refugees,  as  well  as  the  point  where  he 
would  soonest  strike  them.  Booth,  he  knew,  would  not 
keep  along  the  coast,  with  frequent  deep  rivers  to  cross,  nor, 
indeed,  in  any  direction  east  of  Richmond,  where  he  was 
liable  at  any  time  to  cross  our  lines  of  occupation ;  nor, 
being  lame,  could  he  ride  on  horseback,  so  as  to  place  him 
self  very  far  westward  of  his  point  of  debarkation  in  Vir 
ginia.  But  he  would  travel  in  a  direct  course  from  Bluff 


318  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

Point,  where  he  crossed  to  Eastern  Maryland,  and  this  would 
take  him  through  Port  Royal,  on  the  Rappahannock  River, 
in  time  to  be  intercepted  by  the  outgoing  cavalrymen. 

"When,  therefore,  twenty-five  men,  under  one  Lieuten 
ant  Dogherty,  arrived  at  his  office  doors,  Baker  placed  the 
whole  under  control  of  his  former  Lieutenant-Colonel,  E.  J. 
Conger,  and  of  his  cousin,  Lieutenant  L.  B.  Baker — the  first 
of  Ohio,  the  last  of  New  York — and  bade  them  go  with  all 
dispatch  to  Belle  Plain,  on  the  Lower  Potomac,  there  to  dis 
embark  and  scour  the  country  faithfully  around  Port  Royal, 
"but  not  to  return  unless  they  captured  their  men. 

"Quitting  Washington  at  two  o'clock  p.  M.,  on  Monday, 
the  detectives  and  cavalrymen  disembarked  at  Belle  Plain, 
on  the  border  of  Stafford  County,  at  ten  o'clock,  in  the  dark 
ness.  Belle  Plain  is  simply  the  nearest  landing  to  Freder- 
icksburg,  seventy  miles  from  Washington  City,  and  located 
upon  Potomac  Creek.  It  is  a  wharf  and  warehouse  merely, 
and  here  the  steamer  John  S.  Ide  stopped  and  made  fast, 
while  the  party  galloped  off  in  the  darkness.  Conger  and 
Baker  kept  ahead,  riding  up  to  farm-houses  and  questioning 
the  inmates,  pretending  to  be  in  search  of  the  Maryland  gen 
tlemen  belonging  to  the  party.  But  nobody  had  seen  the 
parties  described,  and  after  a  futile  ride  on  the  Fredericks- 
burg  road,  they  turned  shortly  to  the  east,  and  kept  up  their 
baffled  inquiries  all  the  way  to  Port  Con  way,  on  the  Rappa- 
hannock. 

"On  Tuesday  morning  they  presented  themselves  at  the 
Port  Royal  Ferry,  and  inquired  of  the  ferryman,  while  he 
was  taking  them  over  in  squads  of  seven  at  a  time,  if  he  had 
seen  any  two  such  men.  Continuing  their  inquiries  at  Port 
Royal,  they  found  one  Rollins,  a  fisherman,  who  referred 
them  to  a  negro,  named  Lucas,  as  having  driven  two  men  a 
short  distance  toward  Bowling  Green,  in  a  wagon.  It  was 
found  that  these  men  answered  to  the  description,  Boott 
having  a  crutch,  as  previously  ascertained. 

"The  day  before  Booth  and  Harold  had  applied  at  Port 
Coriway  for  the  general  ferry-boat,  but  the  ferryman  was 
then  fishing,  and  would  not  desist  for  the  inconsiderable  fare 
of  only  two  persons  ;  but  to  their  supposed  good  fortune  a 
lot  of  Confederate  cavalrymen  just  then  came  along  who 


A  CONFEDERATE   CAPTAIN— GARRETT'8.  319 

threatened  the  ferryman  with  a  shot  in  the  head  if  he  did 
not  instantly  bring  across  his  craft  and  transport  the  entire 
party.  These  cavalrymen  were  of  Moseby'  s  disbanded  com 
mand,  returning  from  Fairfax  Court  House  to  their  homes  in 
Caroline  County.  Their  captain  was  on  his  way  to  visit  a 
sweetheart  at  Bowling  Green,  and  he  had  so  far  taken  Booth 
under  his  patronage,  that  when  the  latter  was  haggling  with 
Lucas  for  a  team,  he  offered  both  Booth  and  Harold  the  use 
of  his  horse  to  ride  and  walk  alternately. 

"This  is  the  court  house  town  of  Caroline  County,  a 
small  and  scattered  place,  having  within  it  an  ancient  tavern, 
no  longer  used  for  other  than  lodging  purposes ;  but  here 
they  hauled  from  his  bed  the  captain  aforesaid,  and  bade 
him  dress  himself.  As  soon  as  he  comprehended  the  matter, 
he  became  pallid,  and  eagerly  narrated  the  facts  in  his  pos 
session.  Booth,  to  his  knowledge,  was  then  lying  at  tha 
house  of  one  Garrett,  which  they  had  passed,  and  Harold 
had  departed  the  existing  day  with  the  intention  of  rejoining 
him. 

"Taking  this  captain  along  for  a  guide,  the  worn-out 
horsemen  retraced  their  steps,  though  some  were  so  haggard 
and  wasted  with  travel  that  they  had  to  be  kicked  into  intel 
ligence  before  they  could  climb  to  their  saddles.  The  objects 
of  the  chase  thus  at  hand,  the  detectives,  full  of  sanguine 
purpose,  hurried  the  cortege  so  well  along,  that  by  two 
o'clock  early  morning  all  halted  at  Garrett' s  gate.  In  the 
pale  moonlight,  three  hundred  yards  from  the  main  road, 
to  the  left,  a  plain,  old  farm-house  looked  grayly  through 
the  environing  locusts.  It  was  worn,  and  whitewashed,  and 
two-storied,  and  its  half-human  windows  glowered  down 
upon  the  silent  cavalrymen  like  watching  owls,  which  stood 
as  sentries  over  some  horrible  secret  asleep  within. 

"Dimly  seen  behind,  an  old  barn,  high  and  weather 
beaten,  faced  the  roadside  gate,  for  the  house  itself  lay  to 
the  left  of  its  own  lane  ;  and  nestling  beneath  the  barn,  a 
few  long  corn-cribs  lay,  with  a  cattle-shed  at  hand. 

"In  the  dead  stillness,  Baker  dismounted  and  forced  the 
outer  gate,  Conger  kept  close  behind  him,  and  the  horsemen 
followed  cautiously.  They  made  no  noise  in  the  soft  clay, 
nor  broke  the  all-foreboding  silence  anywhere,  till  the  second 


320  UNITED  STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

gate  swung  open  gratingly,  yet  even  then  nor  hi  arse  nor 
nor  shrill  response  came  back,  save  distant  croaking,  as  of 
frogs  or  owls,  or  the  whiz  of  some  passing  night-hawk.  So 
they  surrounded  the  pleasant  old  homestead,  each  horseman, 
carbine  in  poise,  adjusted  under  the  grove  of  locusts,  so  as 
to  inclose  the  dwelling  with  a  circle  of  fire.  After  a  pause, 
Baker  rode  to  the  kitchen  door  on  the  side,  and  dismounting, 
rapped  and  hallooed  lustily.  An  old  man,  in  drawers  and 
night-shirt,  hastily  undrew  the  bolts,  and  stood  on  the 
threshold,  peering  shiveringly  into  the  darkness. 

"Baker  seized  him  by  the  throat  at  once,  and  held  a 
pistol  to  his  ear. 

"  '  Who  is  it  that  calls  me  ?'  cried  the  old  man. 

"  'Where  are  the  men  who  stay  with  you?'  challenged 
Baker.  '  If  you  prevaricate,  you  are  a  dead  man  !' 

"The  old  fellow,  who  proved  to  be  the  head  of  the 
family,  was  so  overawed  and  paralyzed  that  he  stammered 
and  shook  and  said  not  a  word. 

"  '  G-o  light  a  candle,'  cried  Baker,  sternly,  '  and  be  quick 
about  it.' 

"The  trembling  old  man  obeyed,  and  in  a  moment  the 
imperfect  rays  flared  upon  his  whitening  hairs,  and  bluishly 
pallid  face.  Then  the  question  was  repeated,  backed  up  by 
the  glimmering  pistol.  '  Where  are  these  men  V 

"The  old  man  held  to  the  wall,  and  his  knees  smote  each 
other.  i  They  are  gone,'  he  said.  '  We  haven't  got  them  in 
the  house  ;  I  assure  you  that  they  are  gone.' 

"In  the  interim  Conger  had  also  entered,  and  while  the 
household  and  its  invaders  were  thus  in  weird  tableau,  a 
young  man  appeared,  as  if  he  had  risen  from  the  ground. 
The  eyes  of  everybody  turned  upon  him  in  a  second  ;  but, 
while  he  blanched,  he  did  not  lose  loquacity.  '  Father,'  he 
said,  '  we  had  better  tell  the  truth  about  the  matter.  Those 
men  whom  you  seek,  gentlemen,  are  in  the  barn,  I  know. 
They  went  there  to  sleep.'  Leaving  one  soldier  to  guard  the 
old  man — and  the  soldier  was  very  glad  of  the  job,  as  it 
relieved  him  of  personal  hazard  in  the  approaching  combat 
— all  the  rest,  with  cocked  pistols  at  the  young  man's  head, 
followed  on  to  the  barn.  It  lay  a  hundred  yards  from  the 
house,  the  front  barn-door  facing  the  west  gable,  and  was  an 


THE  BARN— THE  PROPOSAL  AND   REPLY.  321 

old  and  spacious  structure,  with  floors  only  a  trifle  above  the 
ground  level. 

"  The  troops  dismounted,  were  stationed  at  regular  inter 
vals  around  it,  and  ten  yards  distant  at  every  point,  four 
special  guards  placed  to  command  the  door,  and  all  with 
weapons  in  supple  preparation,  while  Baker  and  Conger 
went  direct  to  the  door.  It  had  a  padlock  upon  it,  and  the 
key  of  this  Baker  secured  at  once.  In  the  interval  of  silence 
that  ensued,  the  rustling  of  planks  and  straw  was  heard 
inside,  as  of  persons  rising  from  sleep. 

u  At  the  same  moment  Baker  hailed : — 

"  '  To  the  persons  in  this  barn  I  have  a  proposal  to  make. 
We  are  about  to  send  in  to  you  the  son  of  the  man  in  whose 
custody  you  are  found.  Either  surrender  to  him  your  arms, 
and  then  give  yourself  up,  or  we'll  set  fire  to  the  place.  We 
mean  to  take  you  both,  or  to  have  a  bonfire  and  shooting- 
match.' 

"  ]S"o  answer  came  to  this  of  any  kind.  The  lad,  John  M. 
G-arrett,  who  was  in  deadly  fear,  was  here  pushed  through 
the  door  by  a  sudden  opening  of  it,  and  immediately 
Lieutenant  Baker  locked  the  door  on  the  outside.  The 
boy  was  heard  to  state  his  appeal  in  under  tones.  Booth 
replied  :— 

"  < you.     Get  out  of  here.     You  have  betrayed  me.' 

"At  the  same  time  he  placed  his  hand  in  his  pocket,  as 
if  for  a  pistol.  A  remonstrance  followed  ;  but  the  boy 
slipped  on  and  over  the  reopened  portal,  reporting  that  his 
errand  had  failed,  and  that  he  dare  not  enter  again.  All 
this  time  the  candle  brought  from  the  house  to  the  barn  was 
burning  close  beside  the  two  detectives,  rendering  it  easy 
for  any  one  within  to  have  shot  them  dead.  This  observed, 
the  light  was  cautiously  removed,  and  everybody  took  care 
to  keep  out  of  its  reflection.  By  this  time  the  crisis  of  the 
position  was  at  hand ;  the  cavalry  exhibited  very  variable 
inclinations,  some  to  run  away,  others  to  shoot  Booth  with 
out  a  summons  ;  but  all  excited  and  fitfully  silent.  At  the 
house  near  by,  the  female  folks  were  seen  collected  in  the 
doorway,  and  the  necessities  of  the  case  provoked  prompt 
conclusions.  The  boy  was  placed  at  a  remote  point,  and  the 
summons  repeated  by  Baker : — 
21 


322  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

>  c<  <you  must  surrender  inside  there  !  Give  up  your  arms 
and  appear ;  there's  no  chance  for  escape.  We  give  you  five 
minutes  to  make  up  your  mind.' 

"A  bold,  clarion  reply  came  from  within,  so  strong  as  to 
be  heard  at  the  house  door  : — 

"  '  Who  are  you,  and  what  do  you  want  with  us?' 

"  Baker  again  urged  : — 

"  'We  want  you  to  deliver  up  your  arms,  and  become 
our  prisoners.' 

"  '  But  who  are  you  V  hallooed  the  same  strong  voice. 

"  '  That  makes  no  difference  ;  we  know  who  you  are,  and 
we  want  you.  We  have  here  fifty  men,  armed  with  carbines 
and  pistols.  You  cannot  escape.' 

"There  was  a  long  pause,  and  then  Booth  said  : — 

"  '  Captain,  this  is  a  hard  case,  I  swear.  Perhaps  I  am 
being  taken  by  my  own  friends.' 

"No  reply  from  the  detectives. 

"  i  Well,  give  us  a  little  time  to  consider.' 

"  'Very  well  ;  take  time.' 

"  Here  ensued  a  long  and  eventful  pause.     What  throng 
ing  memories  it  brought  to  Booth  we  can  only  guess.     In 
this  little  interval  he  made  the  resolve  to  die.     But  he  was 
cool  and  steady  to  the  end.     Baker,  after  a  lapse,  hailed  for 
the  last  time  :— 

"  '  Well,  we  have  waited  long  enough  ;  surrender  your 
arms  and  come  out,  or  we'll  fire  the  barn.' 

"Booth  answered  thus  :  — 

"'I  am  but  a  cripple—  -4  one-legged  man.  Withdraw 
your  forces  one  hundred  yards  from  the  door,  and  I  will 
come.  Give  me  a  chance  for  my  life,  captain.  I  will  never 
be  taken  alive !' 

"  '  We  did  not  come  here  to  fight,  but  to  capture  you.  I 
say  again  appear,  or  the  barn  shall  be  fired.' 

"  Then,  with  a  long  breath,  which  could  be  heard  outside, 
Booth  cried,  in  sudden  calmness,  still  invisible,  as  were  to 
him  his  enemies : — 

"'Well,  then,  my  brave  boys,  prepare  a  stretcher  for 
me!' 

"There  was  a  pause  repeated,  broken  by  low  discussions 
within  between  Booth  and  his  associate,  the  former  saying, 


SURRENDER   OP  HAROLD— FIRING   THE    KARN.  323 

as  if  in  answer  to  some  remonstrance  or  appeal :  "  Get  away 

from  me.  You  are  a coward,  and  mean  to  leave  me  in 

my  distress  ;  but  go — go  !  I  don't  want  you  to  stay — I  won't 
have  you  stay  !'  Then  he  shouted  aloud  : — 

"  'There's  a  man  inside  who  wants  to  surrender.' 

"  '  Let  him  come,  if  he  will  bring  his  arms.' 

i '  Here  Harold,  rattling  at  the  door,  said  :  '  Let  me  out ; 
open  the  door  ;  I  want  to  surrender.' 

"  'Hand  out  your  arms,  then.' 

"  '  I  have  not  got  any.' 

"  'You  are  the  man  who  carried  the  carbine  yesterday; 
bring  it  out !' 

"  'I  haven't  got  any.' 

"This  was  said  in  a  whining  tone,  and  with  an  almost 
visible  shiver.  Booth  cried  aloud  at  this  hesitation : — 

"  '  He  hasn't  got  any  arms ;  they  are  mine,  and  I  have 
kept  them.' 

"  'Well,  he  carried  the  carbine,  and  must  bring  it  out.' 

' '  '  On  the  word  and  honor  of  a  gentleman,  he  has  no  arms 
with  him.  They  are  mine,  and  I  have  got  them.' 

"At  this  time  Harold  was  quite  up  to  the  door,  within 
whispering  distance  of  Baker.  The  latter  told  him  to  put 
out  his  hands  t&  be  handcuffed,  at  the  same  time  drawing 
open  the  door  a  little  distance.  Harold  thrust  forth  his 
hands,  when  Baker,  seizing  him,  jerked  him  into  the  night, 
and  straightway  delivered  him  over  to  a  deputation  of  caval 
rymen.  The  fellow  began  to  talk  of  his  innocence,  and  plead 
so  noisily,  that  Conger  threatened  to  gag  him,  unless  he 
ceased.  Then  Booth  made  his  last  appeal,  in  the  same  clear, 
unbroken  voice  :— 

"  'Captain,  give  me  a  chance.  Draw  off  your  men,  and 
I  will  fight  them  singly.  I  could  have  killed  you  six  times 
to-night,  but  I  believe  you  to  be  a  brave  man,  and  would 
not  murder  you.  Give  a  lame  man  a  show.' 

"  It  was  too  late  for  parley.  All  this  time  Booth's  voice 
had  sounded  from  the  middle  of  the  barn. 

"  Ere  he  ceased  speaking,  Colonel  Conger  slipped  around 
to  the  rear,  drew  some  loose  straws  through  a  crack,  and  lit 
a  match  upon  them.  They  were  dry  and  blazed  up  in  an 
Instant,  carrying  a  sheet  of  smoke  and  name  through  the 


324  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

parted  planks,  and  heaving  in  a  twinkling  a  world  of  light 
and  heat  upon  the  magazine  within.  The  blaze  lit  up  the 
black  recesses  of  the  great  barn,  till  every  wasp's  nest  and 
cobweb  in  the  roof  were  luminous  ;  flinging  streaks  of  zed 
and  violet  across  the  tumbled  farm  gear  in  the  corner, 
ploughs,  harrows,  hoes,  rakes,  sugar-mills,  and  making 
every  separate  grain  in  the  high  bin  adjacent  gleam  like 
a  mote  of  precious  gold.  They  tinged  the  beams,  the  up 
right  columns,  the  barricades,  where  clover  and  timothy, 
piled  high,  held  toward  the  hot  incendiary  their  separate 
straws  for  the  funeral  pile.  They  bathed  the  murderer's 
retreat  in  a  beautiful  illumination,  and  while  in  bold  outline 
his  figure  stood  revealed,  they  rose  like  an  impenetrable 
wall  to  guard  from  sight  the  hated  enemy  who  lit  them. 

"Behind  the  blaze,  with  his  eye  to  a  crack,  Conger  saw 
Wilkes  Booth  standing  upright  upon  a  crutch.  He  likens 
him  at  this  instant  to  his  brother  Edwin,  whom,  he  says,  he 
so  much  resembled  that  he  believed,  for  the  moment,  the 
whole  pursuit  to  have  been  a  mistake.  At  the  gleam  of  the 
fire,  Wilkes  dropped  his  crutch  and  carbine,  and  on  both 
hands  crept  to  the  spot  to  espy  the  incendiary  and  shoot  him 
dead.  His  eyes  were  lustrous,  like  fever,  and  swelled  and 
rolled  in  terrible  beauty,  while  his  teeth  were  fixed,  and  he 
wore  the  expression  of  one  in  the  calmness  before  frenzy.  In 
vain  he  peered,  with  vengeance  in  his  look ;  the  blaze  that 
made  him  visible  concealed  his  enemy.  A  second  he  turned 
glaring  at  the  fire,  as  if  to  leap  upon  it  arid  extinguish  it,  but 
it  had  made  such  headway  that  this  was  a  futile  impulse,  and 
he  dismissed  it.  As  calmly  as  upon  the  battle-field  a  veteran 
stands,  amidst  the  hail  of  ball,  and  shell,  and  plunging  iron, 
Booth  turned  at  a  man's  stride  and  pushed  for  the  door,  car 
bine  in  poise,  and  the  last  resolve  of  death,  which  we  name 
despair,  sat  on  his  high,  bloodless  forehead. 

"As  so  he  dashed,  intent  to  expire  not  unaccompanied, 
a  disobedient  sergeant,  at  an  eyehole,  drew  upon  him  the 
fatal  bead.  The  barn  was  all  glorious  with  conflagration, 
and  in  the  beautiful  ruin  this  outlawed  man  strode  like  all 
that  we  know  of  wicked  valor,  stern  in  the  face  of  death.  A 
shock,  a  shout,  a  gathering  up  of  his  splendid  figure,  as  if  to 
overtip  the  stature  God  gave  him,  and  John  Wilkes  Booth 


CONGER  SEES  BOOTH  IN  THE  BURNING  BARN 


BOOTH,  THE  ASSASSIN^  BROUOHT* TO  B*y. 


LAST  WORDS   OF  J.  W.  BCt/TII.  325 

fell  headlong  to  the  floor,  lying  there  in  a  heap,  a  little  life 
remaining.  But  no. 

"'He  has  shot  himself,'  cried  Baker,  unaware  of  the 
source  of  the  report,  and  rushing  in,  he  grasped  his  arm,  to 
guard  against  any  feint  or  strategy.  A  moment  convinced 
him  that  further  struggle  with  the  prone  flesh  was  useless. 
Booth  did  not  move,  nor  breathe,  nor  gasp.  Conger  and  the 
two  sergeants  now  entered,  and,  taking  up  the  body,  they 
bore  it  in  haste  from  the  advancing  flame,  and  laid  it  without 
upon  the  grass,  all  fresh  with  heavenly  dew. 

"  '  Water,'  cried  Conger  ;  '  bring  water.' 

'  When  this  was  dashed  into  his  face,  he  revived  a 
moment,  and  stirred  his  lips.  Baker  put  his  ear  close  down 
and  heard  him  say : — 

"  'Tell  mother — and — die — for  my  country/ 

"They  lifted  him  again,  the  fire  encroaching  in  hotnesa 
upon  them,  and  placed  nim  upon  the  porch  before  the  dwell 
ing. 

"A  mattress  was  brought  down,  on  which  they  placed 
him,  and  propped  his  head,  and  gave  him  water  and  brandy. 
The  women  of  the  household,  joined  meantime  by  another 
son,  who  had  been  found  in  one  of  the  corn-cribs,  watching, 
as  he  said,  to  see  that  Booth  and  Harold  did  not  steal  the 
horses,  were  nervous,  but  prompt  to  do  the  dying  man  all 
kindnesses,  although  waved  sternly  back  by  the  detectives. 
They  dipped  a  rag  in  brandy  and  water,  and  this  being  put 
between  Booth' s  teeth,  he  sucked  it  greedily.  When  lie  was 
able  to  articulate  again,  he  muttered  to  Baker  the  same 
words,  with  an  addenda  :— 

"  'Tell  mother  I  died  for  my  country.  I  thought  I  did 
for  the  best.' 

"Baker  repeated  this,  saying  at  the  same  time,  'Booth, 
do  I  repeat  it  correctly  ?'  Booth  nodded  his  head. 

"By  this  time  the  gray  ness  of  dawn  was  approaching; 
moving  figures,  inquisitively  coining  near,  were  to  be  seen 
distinctly,  and  the  cocks  began  to  crow  gutturally,  though 
the  barn  by  this  time  was  a  hulk  of  blaze  and  ashes,  sending 
toward  the  zenith  a  spiral  line  of  dense  smoke. 

"The  women  became  importunate  at  this  time  that  the 
tioops  might  be  ordered  to  extinguish  the  fire,  which  waa 


326  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

spreading  toward  their  precious  corn-cribs.  Not  even  death 
could  banish  the  call  of  interest.  Soldiers  were  sent  to  put 
out  the  fire,  and  Booth,  relieved  of  the  bustle  around  him, 
drew  near  to  death  apace.  Twice  he  was  heard  to  say,  '  Kill 
me — kill  me  !'  His  lips  often  moved,  but  could  complete  no 
appreciable  sound.  He  made  once  a  motion,  which  the  quick 
eye  of  Conger  understood  to  mean  that  his  throat  pained  him. 
Conger  put  his  finger  there,  when  the  dying  man  attempted 
to  cough,  but  only  caused  the  blood  at  his  perforated  neck 
to  flow  more  lively.  He  bled  very  little,  although  shot  quite 
through,  beneath  and  behind  the  ears,  his  collar  being  sev 
ered  on  both  sides. 

"A  soldier  had  been  meanwhile  dispatched  for  a  doctor, 
but  the  route  and  return  was  quite  six  miles,  and  the  sinner 
was  sinking  fast.  Still  the  women  made  efforts  to  get  to  see 
him,  but  were  always  rebuffed,  and  all  the  brandy  they 
could  find  was  demanded  by  the  assassin,  who  motioned  for 
strong  drink  every  two  minutes.  He  made  frequent  desires 
to  be  turned  over — not  by  speech,  but  by  gesture — and  he 
was  alternately  placed  upon  his  back,  belly,  and  side.  His 
tremendous  vitality  evidenced  itself  almost  miraculously. 
Now  and  then  his  heart  would  cease  to  throb,  and  his  pulse 
would  be  as  cold  as  a  dead  man's.  Directly  life  would  begin 
anew,  the  face  would  flush  up  efful  gently,  the  eyes  open  and 
brighten,  and  soon  relapsing,  stillness  reasserted,  would  again 
be  dispossessed  by  the  same  magnificent  triumph  of  man  over 
mortality.  Finally,  the  fussy  little  doctor  arrived,  i.n  time  to 
be  useless.  He  probed  the  wound  to  see  if  the  ball  were  not 
in  it,  and  shook  his  head  sagely,  and  talked  learnedly. 

"  Just  at  his  coming,  Booth  had  asked  to  have  his  hands 
raised  and  shown  him.  They  were  so  paralyzed  that  he  did 
not  know  their  location.  When  they  were  displayed,  he 
muttered,  with  a  sad  lethargy,  '  Useless — useless  !'  These 
were  the  last  words  he  ever  uttered. 

"As  he  began  to  die,  the  sun  rose  and  threw  beams  into 
all  the  tree-tops.  It  was  at  a  man's  height  when  the  struggle 
of  death  twitched  and  lingered  in  the  fading  bravo' s  face. 
His  jaw  drew  spasmodically  and  obliquely  downward ;  his 
eyeballs  rolled  toward  his  feet,  and  began  to  swell ;  livid- 
ness,  like  a  horrible  shadow,  fastened  upon  him,  and  with 


THE  RETURN  TO  WASHINGTON.  329 

a  sort  of  gurgle,  and  sudden  check,  he  stretched  his  feet,  and 
threw  his  head  back,  and  gave  up  the  ghost. 

"They  sewed  him  up  in  a  saddle-blanket.  This  was  hia 
shroud  ;  too  like  a  soldier' s.  Harold,  meantime,  had  been 
tied  to  a  tree,  but  was  now  released  for  the  march.  Colonel 
Conger  pushed  on  immediately  for  Washington  ;  the  cortege 
was  to  follow.  Booth's  only  arms  were  his  carbine,  knife, 
and  two  revolvers.  They  found  about  him  bills  of  exchange, 
Canada  money,  and  a  diary.  A  venerable  old  negro  living 
in  the  vicinity  had  the  misfortune  to  possess  a  horse.  This 
horse  was  the  relic  of  former  generations,  and  showed  by  his 
protruding  ribs  the  general  leanness  of  the  land.  He  moved 
in  an  eccentric  amble,  and  when  put  upon  his  speed  was 
generally  run  backward.  To  this  old  negro's  horse  was 
harnessed  a  very  shaky  and  absurd  wagon,  which  rattled 
like  approaching  dissolution,  and  each  part  of  it  ran  without 
any  connection  or  correspondence  with  any  other  part.  It 
had  no  tail-board,  and  its  shafts  were  sharp  as  famine ;  and 
into  this  mimicry  of  a  vehicle  the  murderer  was  to  be  sent 
to  the  Potomac  River,  while  the  man  he  had  murdered  was 
moving  in  state  across  the  mourning  continent.  The  old 
negro  geared  up  his  wagon  by  means  of  a  set  of  fossil  har 
ness,  and  when  it  was  backed  to  Garrett'  s  porch,  they  laid 
within  it  the  discolored  corpse.  The  corpse  was  tied  with 
ropes  around  the  legs,  and  made  fast  to  the  wagon  side. 

"Harold's  legs  were  tied  to  stirrups,  and  he  was  placed 
in  the  centre  of  four  murderous-looking  cavalrymen.  The 
two  sons  of  Garrett  were  also  taken  along,  despite  the  sobs 
and  petitions  of  the  old  folks  and  women,  but  the  rebel  cap 
tain  who  had  given  Booth  a  lift  got  off  amid  the  night's 
agitations,  and  was  not  rearrested.  So  moved  the  cavalcade 
of  retribution,  with  death  in  its  midst,  along  the  road  to  Port 
Royal.  When  the  wagon  started,  Booth's  wound,  now 
scarcely  dribbling,  began  to  run  anew.  It  fell  through  the 
crack  of  the  wagon,  and  fell  dripping  upon  the  axle,  and 
spotting  the  road  with  terrible  wafers.  It  stained  the  planks 
and  soaked  the  blankets ;  and  the  old  negro,  at  a  stoppage, 
babbled  his  hands  in  it  by  mistake  ;  he  drew  back  instantly, 
with  a  shudder  and  stifled  expletive,  'Gor-r-r,  dat  '11  never 
off  in  de  world  ;  it's  murderer's  blood.'  He  wrung  his 


UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

hands,  and  looked  imploringly  at  the  officers,  and  shuddered 
again  ;  4  Gor-r-r,  I  wouldn't  have  dat  on  me  for  ton  sail  d 
tonsand  dollars.1 

"The  progress  uf  the  team  was  slow,  with  frequent  dan 
ger  of  shipwreck  altogether,  but  toward  noon  the  cortege 
died  through  Port  Royal,  where  the  citizens  came  out  to  ask 
the  matter,  and  why  a  man's  body,  covered  with  sombre 
blankets,  was  going  by  with  so  great  escort.  They  were 
told  that  it  was  a  wounded  Confederate,  and  so  held  their 
tongues.  The  little  ferry,  again  in  requisition,  took  them 
over  by  squads,  and  they  pushed  from  Port  Conway  to  Belle 
Plain,  which  they  reached  in  the  middle  of  the  afternoon. 
All  the  way  the  blood  dribbled  from  the  corpse  in  a  slow, 
incessant,  sanguine  exudation.  The  old  negro  was  niggardly 
dismissed  with  two  paper  dollars.  The  dead  man  untied 
and  cast  upon  the  vessel' s  deck,  steam  gotten  up  in  a  little 
while,  and  the  broad  Potomac  shores  saw  this  skeleton  ship 
flit  by,  as  the  bloody  sun  threw  gashes  and  blots  of  un 
healthy  light  along  the  silver  surface. 

"All  the  way  associate  with  the  carcass  went  Harold, 
shuddering  in  so  grim  companionship,  and  in  the  awakened 
fears  of  his  own  approaching  ordeal,  beyond  which  it  loomed 
already,  the  gossamer  fabric  of  a  scaffold.  He  tried  to  talk 
for  his  own  exoneration,  saying  he  had  ridden  as  was  his 
wont,  beyond  the  East  Branch,  and  returning  found  Booth 
wounded,  who  begged  him  to  be  his  companion.  Of  his 
crime  he  knew  nothing,  so  help  him  God,  &c.  But  nobody 
listened  to  him.  All  interest  of  crime,  courage,  and  retribu 
tion  centered  in  the  dead  flesh  at  his  feet.  At  Washington, 
high  and  low  turned  out  to  look  on  Booth.  Only  a  few 
were  permitted  to  see  his  corpse  for  purposes  of  recognition. 
It  was  fairly  preserved,  though  on  one  side  of  the  face  dis 
torted,  and  looking  blue  like  death,  and  wildly  bandit-like, 
as  if  beaten  by  avenging  winds. 

"Finally,  the  Secretary  of  War,  without  instructions  of 
any  kind,  committed  to  Colonel  Lafayette  C.  Baker,  of  the 
Secret  Service,  the  stark  corpse  of  J.  Wilkes  Booth.  The 
Secret  Service  never  fulfilled  its  vocation  more  secretly. 
'What  have  you  done  with  the  body?'  said  I  to  Baker. 
That  is  known,  he  answered,  'to  only  one  man  living 


BURIAL   OF   BOOTH.  :}:}\ 

beside  myself.  It  is  gone  ;  I  will  not  tell  you  where ;  the 
only  man  who  knows  is  sworn  to  silence  ;  never  till  the  great 
trumpeter  comes  shall  the  grav^e  of  Booth  be  discovered.' 
And  this  is  true.  Last  night,  the  27th  of  April,  a  small  row- 
boat  received  the  carcass  of  the  murderer  ;  two  men  were  in 
it ;  they  carried  the  body  off  into  the  darkness,  and  out  of 
that  darkness  it  will  never  return  ;  in  the  darkness,  like  his 
great  crime,  may  it  remain  forever ;  impassable,  invisible, 
nondescript,  condemned  to  that  worse  than  damnation — anni 
hilation. 

"The  river  bottom  may  ooze  about  it,  laden  with  great 
shot  and  drowning  manacles.  The  earth  may  have  opened 
to  give  it  that  silence  and  forgiveness  which  man  will  never 
give  to  its  memory.  The  fishes  may  swim  around  it,  or  the 
daisies  grow  white  above  it ;  but  we  shall  never  know. 
Mysterious,  incomprehensible,  unattainable,  like  the  dim 
times  through  which  we  live,  we  think  upon  it  as  if  we  only 
dreamed  in  a  perturbed  fever ;  the  assassin  of  a  nation' s 
head  rests  somewhere  in  the  elements,  and  that  is  all ;  but  if 
the  indignant  seas  or  the  profaned  turf  shall  ever  vomit  this 
corpse  from  their  recesses,  and  it  receives  Christian  burial 
from  some  one  who  does  not  recognize  it,  let  the  last  words 
those  decaying  lips  ever  uttered  be  carved  above  them  with 
a  dagger,  to  tell  the  history  of  a  young,  and  once  promising 
life." 

It  is  not  improper  to  state,  that  only  two  persons  on  earth 
know  where  the  body  of  Booth  lies.  Lieutenant  Baker,  on 
whose  lap  his  dying  head  was  laid,  and  myself,  have  the 
dark  secret  to  keep.  The  night  before  the  removal  of  the 
remains  I  was  ordered,  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  have 
them  securely  guarded,  that  no  one  might  touch  them  ;  as 
"  every  hair  of  his  head  would  be  a  valued  relic  to  the  sym 
pathizers  with  the  South  in  Washington."  I  had  not  had 
my  clothes  off  for  nearly  two  weeks,  and  was  granted  leave 
of  absence  from  the  vessel,  on  whose  deck  was  lying  the 
corpse  of  the  assassin,  covered  witli  two  blankets  sewed 
together  like  a  sack,  completely  concealing  it.  Upon  my 
return,  I  was  greatly  surprised  and  indignant,  to  find  per 
sons  of  high  position,  and  some  of  secession  proclivities, 
around  the  dead  body,  the  coarse  shroud  parted  at  the  seam, 


33'2  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

and  a  lady  at  that  moment  cutting  off  a  lock  of  the  black, 
curled,  and  beautiful  hair.  I  seized  the  fair  hands,  and, 
after  a  refusal  to  give  me  the  relic,  forcibly  took  it,  and  then 
cleared  the  deck,  to  the  amazement  and  displeasure  of  some 
of  the  party. 

At  noon  of  that  night,  with  my  trusty  lieutenant,  a  man 
of  thoroughly  Christian  principles,  I  placed  the  body  in  a 
small  boat,  and  we  rowed  away  from  the  silent  leviathan  of 
Mars,  which  had  borne  the  loathsome  body  to  the  nation's 
capital ;  with  no  watchful  eye  upon  us,  but  that  of  Him  who 
scattered  above  us  the  shining  stars.  It  was  a  strange,  wild 
hour  on  the  calm  Potomac  ;  and  yet,  so  great  was  my  ex 
haustion  and  fatigue,  that  I  fell  to  dozing  with  the  oar  in  my 
hand,  and  the  sack  containing  the  assassin's  corpse  at  my 
feet.  Further  I  cannot  go — it  is  best  to  let  the  curtain  of  un 
broken  secrecy  and  mystery  remain  between  the  burial  and 
all  human  curiosity. 

The  diary  kept  by  Booth  after  the  murder  of  the  Presi 
dent,  to  which  I  referred  in  connection  with  the  giving  of  the 
personal  effects  of  Booth  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  recorded 
the  adventures  of  the  fugitive  ;  one  of  these  was  the  killing 
of  his  horse  in  the  tangled  forest  to  avoid  detection,  and  then 
sleeping  between  the  animal's  legs  to  get  the  warmth  while 
it  remained  in  the  dead  body,  during  the  'long  hours  of  the 
horrible  night.  With  the  dawn,  he  dragged  his  own  painful 
limbs  along  his  untrodden  path  of  flight  from  the  apparently 
slow,  but  certain,  grasp  of  avenging  justice. 

"On  the  9th  of  July,  1865,  at  as  early  an  hour  as  eight 
A.  M.,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "  people  commenced  to  went  their 
way  down  to  the  prison,  and  the  boats  to  Alexandria,  which 
ran  close  by  the  jail,  were  crowded  all  day  by  those  who 
took  the  trip  in  hopes  of  catching  a  glimpse  of  the  gallows, 
or  of  the  execution,  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  only  position 
outside  of  the  jail  that  could  be  used  as  an  observatory,  was 
the  large  building  upon  the  left  side  of  the  arsenal,  which 
had  about  fifty  spectators  upon  it,  who  had  a  good  view  of 
the  whole. 

"Between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  three 
ante-rooms  of  the  prison,  on  the  first  floor,  were  thronged 
with  army  officers,  principally  of  Hancock's  corps,  anxious 


SECRET  BURIAL  OF  BOOTH. 


THE   EXECUTION.  335 

to  get  a  view  of  the  execution  from  the  windows,  from  which 
Me  scaffold  could  be  plainly  seen.  The  newspaper  reporters 
<soon  began  to  congregate  there  also,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
not  less  than  a  score  were  in  attendance,  waiting  to  pick  up 
the  smallest  item  of  interest.  No  newspaper  man  was  allowed 
to  see  the  prisoners  in  their  cells  before  they  were  led  out  to 
execution,  and  General  Hartranft  was  very  decided  on  this 
point. 

"While  waiting  here  for  over  two  hours,  the  clergymen 
(•passed  in  and  out  through  the  heavily  riveted  door  leading 
to  the  prisoners'  cells,  which  creaked  heavily  on  its  hinges 
as  it  swung  to  and  fro,  and  the  massive  key  was  turned  upon 
the  inner  side  with  a  heavy  sound  as  a  visitor  Avas  admitted 
within  its  portals. 

"Mrs.  Surratfs  daughter  passed  into  the  ante-room, 
accompanied  by  a  lady,  who  remained  seated,  while  the 
daughter  rapidly  entered  the  hall,  and,  passing  through  the 
heavy  door,  is  soon  in  the  corridor  where  her  mother  is 
incarcerated. 

"Messrs.  Cox,  Doster,  Aiken,  and  Clampitt,  counsel  for 
the  prisoners,  are  specially  passed  in  for  a  short  interview, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  they  return  again  to  the  ante-rooms. 
Time  flies  rapidly,  and  not  a  moment  is  to  be  lost.  No  use 
less  words  are  to  be  spoken,  but  earnest  terse  sentences  are 
from  necessity  employed  when  conversing  with  the  doomed 
prisoners,  whose  lives  are  now  measured  by  minutes. 

"Aiken  and  Clampitt  are  both  here.  They  walk  impa 
tiently  up  and  down  the  room,  whispering  a  word  to  each 
other  as  to  the  prospect  of  Mrs.  Surratt's  being  reprieved 
through  the  operations  of  the  habeas  corpus,  which,  Aiken 
confidently  tells  us,  has  been  granted  by  Justice  Wylie,  and 
from  which  he  anticipates  favorable  results.  Strange  infatu 
ation  !  It  was  the  last  straw  to  which,  like  drowning  men, 
they  clutched  with  the  fond  hope  that  it  was  to  rescue  their 
client  from  her  imminent  peril. 

' '  Atzeroth  passed  the  night  previous  to  the  execution 
without  any  particular  manifestations.  He  prayed  and  cried 
alternately,  bat  made  no  other  noise  that  attracted  the 
attention  of  his  keeper.  On  the  morning  of  the  execution 


336  UNITED   STATES    SECRET   SERVICE. 

he  sat  most  of  the  time  on  the  floor  of  his  cell  in  his  shirt 
sleeves. 

"  He  was  attended  by  a  lady  dressed  in  deep  black,  who 
carried  a  prayer-book,  and  who  seemed  more  exercised  in 
spirit  than  the  prisoner  himself.  Who  the  lady  was  could 
not  be  ascertained.  She  left  him  at  half-past  twelve  o'clock, 
and  exhibited  great  emotion  at  parting. 

"  During  the  afternoon  Atzeroth  was  greatly  composed, 
and  spent  part  of  the  time  in  earnest  conversation  with  his 
spiritual  adviser,  Rev.  Mr.  Butler,  of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran 
Church,  Washington.  He  occupied  cell  No.  151  on  the 
ground  floor,  which  was  directly  in  view  of  the  yard,  where 
he  could  see  the  gathering  crowd  and  soldiery,  although  he 
could  not  see  the  scaffold.  He  sat  in  the  corner  of  his  cell 
on  his  bed,  and  when  his  spiritual  adviser  would  go  out  for 
a  few  minutes  and  leave  his  Testament  in  his  hands,  his  eyes 
would  be  dropped  to  it  in  a  moment,  and  occasionally  wan 
der  with  a  wild  look  toward  the  open  window  in  front  of  his 
cell. 

"  He  wore  nothing  but  a  white  linen  shirt  and  a  gray  pair 
of  pants.  The  long  irons  upon  his  hands,  which  he  had 
worn  during  the  trial,  were  not  removed. 

"  Atzeroth  made  a  partial  confession  to  the  Rev.  Mr 
Butler,  a  few  hours  before  his  execution.  He  stated  that  h< 
took  a  room  at  the  Kirk  wood  House  on  Thursday  afternoon, 
and  was  engaged  in  endeavoring  to  get  a  pass  to  Richmond. 
He  then  heard  the  President  was  to  be  taken  to  the  theater 
and  there  to  be  captured.  He  said  he  understood  that  Booth 
was  to  rent  the  theater  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the 
plot  to  capture  the  President.  He  stated  that  Harold  brought 
the  pistol  and  knife  to  the  Kirkwood  House,  and  that  he 
(Atzeroth)  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  attempted  assassination 
of  Andrew  Johnson. 

"  Booth  intended  that  Harold  should  assassinate  Johnson, 
and  he  wanted  him  (Atzeroth)  to  back  him  up  and  give  him 
courage.  Booth  thought  that  Harold  had  more  pluck  than 
Atzeroth. 

"He  alluded  to  the  meeting  at  the  restaurant  about  the 
middle  of  March  He  said  Booth,  Harold,  Payne,  -Arnold, 


THE  EXECUTION.  337 

and  himself  were  present,  and  it  was  then  concerted  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  should  be  captured  and  taken  to  Richmond. 

"They  heard  that  Lincoln  was  to  visit  a  camp  near 
Washington,  and  the  plan  was  that  they  should  proceed 
there  and  capture  the  coach  and  horses  containing  Lincoln, 
and  run  him  through  Prince  George'  County  and  Old  Fields 
to  G.  B.  There  they  were  to  leave  the  coach  and  horses 
and  place  the  President  in  a  buggy  which  Harold  would 
have  on  hand,  and  thus  convey  him  to  a  boat  to  be  in  readi 
ness,  and  run  him  by  some  means  to  Richmond.  He  denies 
that  he  was  in  favor  of  assassinating  Lincoln,  but  was  willing 
to  assist  in  his  capture. 

"He  stated,  however,  that  he  knew  Lincoln  was  to  be 
assassinated  about  half- past  eight  o'clock  on  the  evening  of 
the  occurrence,  but  was  afraid  to  make  it  known,  as  he 
feared  Booth  would  kill  him  if  he  did  so. 

"He  said  that  slavery  caused  his  sympathies  to  be  with 
the  South.  He  had  heard  a  sermon  preached  which  stated 
that  a  curse  on  the  negro  race  had  turned  them  black.  He 
always  hated  the  negroes,  and  thought  they  should  be  kept 
in  ignorance. 

•  "  Booth  had  promised  him  that  if  their  plan  succeeded  for 
the  capture  of  Lincoln  they  should  all  be  rich  men,  and  they 
would  become  great.  The  prisoners  would  all  be  exchanged, 
and  the  independence  of  the  South  would  be  recognized,  and 
their  cause  be  triumphant.  He  had  never  received  any 
money  as  yet. 

"The  crowd  increases.  Reporters  are  scribbling  indus 
triously.  A  suppressed  whisper  is  audible  all  over  the  room 
and  the  hall  as  the  hour  draws  nearer,  and  the  preparations 
begin  to  be  more  demonstrative. 

"The  rumbling  sound  of  the  trap,  as  it  falls  in  the  course 
of  the  experiments  which  are  being  made  to  test  it,  and  to 
prevent  any  unfortunate  accident  occurring  at  the  critical 
moment,  is  heard  through  the  windows,  and  all  eyes  are 
involuntarily  turned  in  that  direction,  for  curiosity  is  excited 
to  the  highest  pitch  to  view  the  operations  of  the  fatal  ma- 
ihinery.  There  are  two  or  three  pictorial  papers  represent 
ed.  One  calmly  makes  a  drawing  of  the  scaffold  for  the 


338  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

next  issue  of  his  paper,  and  thus  the  hours  till  noon  passed 
away. 

"The  bustle  increases.  Officers  are  running  to  and  fro, 
calling  for  orderlies  and  giving  orders.  General  Hartranft 
is  trying  to  answer  twenty  questions  at  once  from  as  many 
different  persons.  The  sentry  in  the  hall  is  becoming  angry 
because  the  crowd  will  keep  intruding  on  his  beat,  when 
suddenly  a  buggy  at  the  door  announces  the  arrival  of  Gen 
eral  Hancock. 

"He  enters  the  room  hurriedly,  takes  General  Hartranft 
aside,  and  a  few  words  pass  between  them  in  a  low  tone,  to 
which  Hartranft  nods  acquiescence  ;  then,  in  a  louder  voice, 
Hancock  says  :  '  Get  ready,  General ;  I  want  to  have  every 
thing  put  in  readiness  as  soon  as  possible.'  This  was  the 
signal  for  the  interviews  of  the  clergymen,  relatives,  and 
friends  of  the  prisoners  to  cease,  and  for  the  doomed  to  pre 
pare  for  execution. 

"The  bustle  increases.  Mr.  Aiken  approaches  General 
Hancock,  and  a  few  minutes'  conversation  passes  between 
them.  Aiken' s  countenance  changes  perceptibly  at  General 
Hancock's  words.  The  reason  is  plain  ;  there  is  no  hope  for 
Mrs.  Surratt,  The  habeas  corpus  movement,  from  which  he 
expected  s:<>  much,  has  failed  ;  and  Aiken,  in  a  voice  tremu 
lous  with  emotion,  said  to  me  :  'Mrs.  Surratt  will  be  hung.' 

"The  bright  hopes  he  had  cherished  had  all  vanished, 
and  the  dreadful  truth  stood  before  him  in  all  its  horror. 
Clampitt,  too,  till  General  Hancock  arrived,  indulged  in  the 
hope  that  the  habeas  corpus  would  effect  a  respite  for  three 
or  four  days. 

"Three  or  four  of  Harold's  sisters,  all  in  one  chorus  of 
weeping,  come  through  the  prison-door  into  the  hall.  They 
had  left  their  brother  and  spoken  tr»  "him  the  last  words,  and 
heard  his  voice  for  the  last  time. 

"At  fifteen  minutes  after  one  o'clock,  General  Hartranft 
blandly  informs  the  'press  gang'  to  be  in  readiness  for  the 
prison-doors  to  be  opened,  when  they  can  pass  into  the  prison- 
yard,  from  whence  a  good  view  of  the  procession  can  be  ob 
tained  as  it  passes  by  to  the  scaffold.  About  11  A.  M.,  the 
prison-yard  was  thrown  open  to  those  having  passes,  and 
about  fifty  entered.  The  first  object  in  view  was  the  scaffold, 


THE  EXECUTION.  339 

which  was  erected  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  peniten 
tiary  yard,  and  consisted  of  a  simple  wooden  structure,  of 
very  primitive  appearance,  faced  about  due  west.  The 
platform  was  elevated  about  twelve  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  was  about  twenty  feet  square.  Attached  to  the  main 
platform  were  the  drops,  &c.,  two  in  number,  on  which  the 
criminals  stood.  At  the  moment  of  execution,  these  drops 
were  connected  with  the  main  platform,  by  means  of  large 
hinges,  four  to  each  drop. 

"The  drops  were  supported  by  a  post,  which  rested  on  a 
heavy  piece  of  timber  placed  on  the  ground,  and  so  arranged 
that  two  soldiers  stationed  at  the  rear  of  the  scaffold  instan 
taneously  detached  the  two  supports  from  their  positions  by 
means  of  pressing  two  poles,  which  occupied  a  horizontal 
position,  the  action  of  which  dislodged  the  props  of  the  scaf 
fold  and  permitted  the  drops  to  fall. 

"The  gallows  proper  was  divided  into  two  parts  by 
means  of  a  perpendicular  piece  of  timber,  resting  on  the 
platform,  and  reaching  up  to  the  cross-beam  of  the  gallows. 
Two  ropes  hung  on  either  side  of  the  piece  of  timber  men 
tioned.  They  were  wound  around  the  cross-beam,  and  con 
tained  large  knots  and  nooses  at  the  lower  end.  The  platform 
was  ascended  by  means  of  a  night  of  steps,  thirteen  in  num 
ber,  erected  at  the  rear  of  the  scaffold,  and  guarded  on  either 
side  by  a  railing,  which  also  extended  around  the  platform. 
The  platform  was  sustained  by  nine  heavy  uprights,  about 
which  rose  the  two  heavy  pieces  of  timber  which  supported 
the  cross-beam  and  constituted  the  gallows.  The  entire 
platform  was  capable  of  holding  conveniently  about  thirty 
people,  and  was  about  half  full  at  the  time  of  the  execution. 

"The  executioners  were  all  fine  stalwart  specimens  of 
Union  soldiers,  and  did  their  work  well.  The  rope  was  fur 
nished  from  the  navy  yard,  and  was  one  and  a  half  inches  in 
circumference,  and  composed  of  twenty  strands. 

"The  graves  were  dug  close  to  the  scaffold,  and  next  to 
the  prison  wall.  They  were  four  in  number,  and  were  about 
three  feet  and  a  half  deep,  in  a  dry,  clayey  soil,  and  about 
seven  feet  long  and  three  wide.  Four  pine  boxes,  similar  to 
those  used  for  packing  guns  in,  stood  between  the  graves 
and  the  scaffold.  These  were  for  coffins,  both  being  in  full 


340  UNITED  STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

view  of  the  prisoners  as  they  emerged  from  their  cells,  and 
before  them  until  they  commenced  the  dreadful  ascent  of 
those  thirteen  steps. 

"  About  a  thousand  soldiers  were  in  the  yard  and  upon 
the  high  wall  around  it,  which  is  wide  enough  for  sentries  to 
patrol  it.  The  sun's  rays  made  it  very  oppressive,  and  the 
walls  kept  off  the  little  breeze  that  was  stirring.  There  was 
no  shade,  and  men  huddled  together  along  the  walls  and 
around  the  pump  to  discuss  with  one  another  the  prospect 
of  a  reprieve  or  delay  for  Mrs.  Surratt.  But  few  hoped  for 
it,  though  some  were  induced  by  Mrs.  Surratt1  s  councel  to 
believe  she  would  not  be  hanged  to-day.  When  one  of  them 
came  out  and  saw  the  four  ropes  hanging  from  the  beam,  he 
exclaimed  to  one  of  the  soldiers :  '  My  God !  they  are  not 
going  to  hang  all  four,  a,re  they  ?' 

"But  there  are  times  when  it  is  mercy  to  hang  criminals, 
and  that  time  was  drawing  nigh,  it  seemed,  for  those  who 
have  been  used  for  years  to  apologizing  for  the  Rebellion, 
and  its  damning  acts,  to  be  brought  to  believe  that  any  crime 
is  to  be  punished.  Of  such  material  were  the  prisoner's 
counsel. 

"  The  drops,  at  11:30,  are  tried  with  three  hundred  pound 
weights  upon  them,  to  see  if  they  will  work.  One  falls  all 
right ;  one  hangs  part  way  down,  and  the  hatchet  and  saw 
were  brought  into  play.  The  next  time  they  were  all  right. 
The  rattle  echoes  around  the  walls  ;  it  reaches  the  prisoners' 
cells  close  by,  and  penetrates  their  inmost  recesses.  All  is 
quiet  in  the  yard,  save  the  scuffle  of  the  military,  and  the 
passing  to  and  fro  of  a  few  civilians. 

"  At  12:40,  four  arm-chairs  are  brought  out  and  placed 
upon  the  scaffold,  and  the  moving  around  of  General  Hart- 
ranft  indicates  the  drawing  near  of  the  time.  The  news 
paper  correspondents  and  reporters  are  admitted  to  a  position 
about  thirty  feet  from  the  gallows,  and  about  one  o'clock  and 
ten  minutes,  the  heavy  door  in  front  of  the  cells  is  swung 
upon  its  hinges  for  the  hundredth  time  within  an  hour,  and 
a  few  reporters,  with  General  Hancock,  pass  in  and  through 
to  the  yard,  and  the  big  door  closes  with  a  slam  behind  them. 
All  take  positions  to  get  a  good  view.  General  Hancock  for 
the  last  time  takes  a  survey  of  the  preparations,  and  being 


THE  EXECUTION  341 

satisfied  that  every  thing  is  ready,  he  re-enters  the  prison 
building,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  solemn  procession  marched 
down  the  steps  of  the  back  door  and  into  the  yard. 

< 'Mrs.  Surratt  cast  her  eyes  upward  upon  the  scaffold, 
for  a  few  moments,  with  a  look  of  curiosity,  combined  with 
dread.  One  glimpse,  and  her  eyes  fell  to  the  ground,  and 
she  walked  along  mechanically,  her  head  drooping,  "and  if 
she  had  not  been  supported  would  have  fallen. 

"  She  ascended  the  scaffold,  and  was  led  to  an  arm-chair, 
in  which  she  was  seated.  An  umbrella  was  held  over  her 
by  the  two  holy  fathers',  to  protect  her  from  the  sun,  whose 
rays  shot  down  like  the  blasts  from  a  fiery  furnace.  She  was 
attired  in  a  black  bombazine  dress,  black  alpaca  bonnet,  with 
black  veil,  which  she  wore  over  her  face  till  she  was  seated 
on  the  chair.  During  the  reading  of  the  order  for  the  execu 
tion,  by  General  Hartranft,  the  priests  held  a  small  crucifix 
before  her,  which  she  kissed  fervently  several  times. 

"She  first  looked  around  at  the  scene  before  her,  then 
closed  her  eyes  and  seemed  engaged  in  silent  prayer.  The 
reading  and  the  announcement  of  the  clergymen  in  behalf 
^i  the  other  prisoners  having  been  made,  Colonel  McCall, 
assisted  by  the  other  officers,  proceeded  to  remove  her  bon 
net,  pinion  her  elbows,  and  tie  strips  of  cotton  stuff  around 
her  dress  below  the  knees.  This  done,  the  rope  was  placed 
around  her  neck  and  her  face  covered  with  a  white  cap 
reaching  down  to  the  shoulders. 

"When  they  were  pinioning  her  arms,  she  turned  her 
head,  and  made  some  remarks  to  the  officers  in  a  low  tone, 
which  could  not  be  heard.  It  appeared  they  had  tied  her 
elbows  too  tight,  for  they  slackened  the  bandage  slightly, 
and  then  awaited  the  final  order.  All  the  prisoners  were 
prepared  thus  at  the  same  time,  and  the  preparations  of  each 
were  completed  at  about  the  same  moment,  so  that  when 
Mrs.  Surratt  was  thus  pinioned,  she  stood  scarcely  ten  sec 
onds,  supported  by  those  standing  near  her,  when  General 
Hartranft  gave  the  signal,  by  clapping  his  hands  twice,  for 
both  drops  to  fall,  and  as  soon  as  the  second  and  last  signal 
was  given,  both  fell,  and  Mrs.  Surratt,  with  a  jerk,  fell  to 
the  full  length  of  the  rope.  She  was  leaning  over  when  the 
drop  fell,  and  this  gave  a  swinging  motion  to  her  body, 


342  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

which  lasted  several  minutes  before  it  assumed  a  perpendicn 
lar  position.     Her  death  was  instantaneous  ;  she  died  with 
out  a  struggle.     The  only  muscular  movement  discernible 
was  a  slight  contraction  of  the  left  arm,  which  she  seemed  to 
try  to  disengage  from  behind  her  as  the  drop  fell. 

4 'After  being  suspended  thirty  minutes,  she  was  cut 
down,  and  placed  in  a  square  wooden  box  or  coffin,  in  the 
clothes  in  which  she  died,  and  was  interred  in  the  prison 
yard.  The  rope  made  a  clean  cut  around  her  neck,  fully  an 
inch  in  diameter,  which  was  black  and  discolored  with 
bruised  blood.  The  cap  was  not  taken  off  her  face,  and  she 
was  laid  in  the  coffin  with  it  on,  and  thus  has  passed  away 
from  the  face  of  the  earth  Mary  E.  Surratt.  Her  body,  it  is 
understood,  will  be  given  to  her  family  for  burial. 

"  Payne  died  as  he  has  lived,  at  least  as  he  has  done  since 
his  arrest,  bold,  calm,  and  thoroughly  composed.  The  only 
tremor  exhibited  by  this  extraordinary  man  during  the  terri 
ble  ordeal  of  the  execution  was  an  involuntary  vibration  of 
the  muscles  of  his  legs  after  the  fatal  drop  fell.  He  was  next 
in  order  to  Mrs.  Surratt  in  the  procession  of  the  criminals 
from  their  cells  to  the  place  of  execution. 

"  He  was  supported  on  one  side  by  his  spiritual  adviser, 
and  on  the  other  by  a  soldier,  although  he  needed  no  such 
assistance,  for  he  walked  erect  and  upright,  and  retained  the 
peculiar  piercing  expression  of  the  eye  that  has  ever  charac 
terized  him.  He  was  dressed  in  a  blue  flannel  shirt,  and 
pants  of  the  same  material.  His  brawny  neck  was  entirely 
exposed,  and  he  wore  a  new  straw  hat.  He  ascended  the 
steps  leading  to  the  scaffold  with  the  greatest  ease,  and  took 
his  seat  on  the  drop  with  as  much  sang  fr old  as  though  he 
was  sitting  down  to  dinner. 

"  Once  or  twice  he  addressed  a  few  words  in  an  undertone 
to  persons  close  by  him,  and  occasionally  glanced  at  the 
array  of  soldiers  and  civilians  spread  out  before  him.  A 
puff  of  wind  blew  off  his  hat,  and  he  instantly  turned  around 
to  see  where  it  went  to.  When  it  was  recovered  and  handed 
to  him,  he  intimated  by  gesturing  that  he  no  longer  required 
it,  and  it  was  laid  aside. 

"  During  the  reading  of  the  sentence  by  General  Hartranft, 
just  previous  to  the  execution,  he  calmly  listened,  and  once 


THE  EXECUTION.  343 

or  twice  glanced  upward  at  the  gallows,  as  if  inspecting  its 
construction.  He  submitted  to  the  process  of  binding  his 
limbs  very  quietly,  and  watched  the  operation  with  attention. 

"His  spiritual  adviser,  Rev.  Dr.  Gillette,  advanced,  a 
few  minutes  previous  to  the  execution,  and  made  some 
remarks  in  Payne' s  behalf.  He  thanked  the  different  officials 
for  the  attention  and  kindness  bestowed  on  Payne,  and 
exhorted  the  criminal  in  a  few  impassioned  words  to  give  his 
entire  thoughts  to  his  future  state.  Payne  stood  immovable 
as  a  statue  when  the  drop  fell.  Although  next  to  Harold, 
who  died  the  hardest,  he  exhibited  more  bodily  contortions 
than  the  others  while  suspended.  While  the  noose  was 
being  adjusted  to  his  neck,  Payne  raised  his  head,  and 
evidently  desired  to  assist  the  executioner  in  that  delicate 
operation. 

"  Probably  no  one  of  the  criminals  felt  as  great  a  dread 
of  the  terrible  ordeal  through  which  they  were  to  pass  as 
young  Harold.  From  the  time  he  left  his  cell  until  his  soul 
was  sent  into  the  presence  of  the  Almighty,  he  exhibited  the 
greatest  emotion,  and  seemed  to  thoroughly  realize  his 
wretched  condition.  His  face  wore  an  indefinable  expression 
of  anguish,  and  at  times  he  trembled  violently.  He  seemed 
to  desire  to  engage  in  conversation  with  those  around  him 
while  sitting  in  the  chair  awaiting  execution,  and  his  spiritual 
adviser,  Rev.  Mr.  Old,  was  assiduous  in  his  attentions  to  the 
wretched  man. 

"  Harold  was  dressed  in  a  black  cloth  coat  and  light  pants, 
and  wore  a  white  shirt  without  any  collar ;  he  wore  also  a 
black  slouch  hat,  which  he  retained  on  his  head  until  it  was 
removed  to  make  room  for  the  white  cap.  At  times  he  looked 
wildly  around,  and  his  face  had  a  haggard,  anxious,  inquir 
ing  expression.  When  the  drop  fell,  he  exhibited  more 
tenacity  of  life  than  any  of  the  others,  and  he  endeavored 
several  times  to  draw  himself  up  as  if  for  the  purpose  of 
relieving  himself  from  the  rope  by  which  he  was  suspended. 

"Atzeroth  ascended  the  steps  of  the  scaffold  without 
difficulty,  and  took  his  seat  at  the  south  end  of  the  drop 
without  exhibiting  any  particular  emotion.  He  was  dressed 
in  a  dark  gray  coat  and  pants,and  black  vest  and  white  linen 
•hirt,  •fli'.hout  any  collar;  on  his  feet  he  wore  a  pair  of 


344  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

woolen  slippers  and  socks.  He  sat  in  such  a  position  that  he 
could  see  the  profiles  of  his  fellow-prisoners,  and  he  had  his 
hands  pinioned  behind  him.  He  wore  no  hat,  had  a  white 
handkerchief  placed  over  his  head  with  a  tuft  of  hair  protrud 
ing  from  it  and  spreading  over  his  forehead. 

"  Directly  behind  him  stood  his  spiritual  adviser,  who  held 
an  umbrella  over  him  to  keep  off  the  burning  rays  of  the  sun. 
During  the  reading  of  the  sentence  by  General  Hartranft,  he 
kept  perfectly  quiet,  but  his  face  wore  an  expression  of  un 
utterable  woe,  and  he  listened  attentively.  He  wore  a  thin 
moustache  and  small  goatee,  and  his  face  was  pale  and  sallow. 
Once,  and  once  only,  he  glanced  around  at  the  assembled 
throng,  and  occassionally  muttered  incoherent  sentences,  but 
he  talked,  while  on  the  scaffold,  to  no  one  immediately  around 
him. 

"  Just  before  his  execution,  his  spiritual  adviser,  Mr.  But 
ler,  advanced  and  stated  that  Atzeroth  desired  to  return  his 
sincere  thanks  to  General  Hartranft  and  the  other  officials  for 
their  many  acts  of  kindness  extended  toward  him.  He  then 
called  on  God  to  forgive  George  Atzeroth,  reminded  him  that 
while  the  wages  of  siri  were  death,  that  whomsoever  placed 
their  hope  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  were  not  forgotten.  He 
hoped  that  God  would  grant  him  a  full  and  free  forgiveness, 
and  ended  by  saying :  '  May  the  Lord  God  have  mercy  on 
you,  and  grant  you  his  peace.' 

"  The  handkerchief  was  then  taken  from  his  head,  and  he 
stood  up,  facing  the  assembled  audience,  directly  alongside 
of  the  instrument  of  his  death.  His  knees  slightly  trembled, 
and  his  legs  were  bent  forward.  He  stood  for  a  few  moments 
the  very  embodiment  of  wretchedness,  and  then  spoke  a  few 
words  in  an  undertone  to  General  Hartranft,  after  which  lie 
shook  hands  with  his  spiritual  adviser  and  a  few  others  near 
him  ;  while  he  was  being  secured  with  bands,  tied  around 
his  legs  and  arms,  he  kept  muttering  to  himself,  as  if  engaged 
in  silent  prayer. 

4 '  Suddenly  he  broke  forth  with  the  words,  i  Gentlemen, 
beware  who  you — '  and  then  stopped,  as  if  with  emotion  ;  as 
the  white  cap  was  being  placed  over  his  head  he  said,  c  Good 
bye,  gentlemen  ;  mav  we  all  meet  in  the  other  world.  God 


THE  EXECUTION.  345 

take  me  now.'  He  muttered  something  loud  enough  for 
those  close  by  him  to  hear,  just  as  the  drop  fell,  evidently 
not  anticipating  such  an  event  at  that  moment.  He  died 
without  apparent  pain,  and  his  neck  must  have  been  in 
stantly  broken. 

"After  hanging  a  few  seconds. his  stomach  heaved  con 
siderably,  and  subsequently  his  legs  quivered  a  little.  Hia 
death  appeared  to  be  the  easiest  of  any  of  the  criminals,  with 
the  exception  of  Mrs.  Surratt,  who  did  not  apparently  suffer 
at  all.  After  hanging  half  an  hour,  Atzeroth's  body  waa 
taken  down,  it  being  the  first  one  lowered,  and  an  examina 
tion  made  by  Surgeons  Otis,  Woodward,  and  Porter. 

"  About  half-past  eight  o'clock  this  morning,  Miss  Sur 
ratt,  accompanied  by  a  female  friend,  again  visited  the  White 
House,  having  been  there  last  evening  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  an  interview  with  the  President.  President  John 
son  having  given  orders  that  he  would  receive  no  one  to-day, 
the  door-keeper  stopped  Miss  Svrratt  at  the  foot  of  the  stepa 
leading  up  to  the  President's  office,  and  would  not  permit 
her  to  proceed  further.  She  then  asked  permission  to  see 
General  Mussey,  the  President's  Military  Secretary,  who 
promptly  answered  the  summons,  and  came  down  stairs 
where  Miss  Surratt  was  standing. 

"  As  soon  as  the  General  made  his  appearance,  Miss  Sur 
ratt  threw  herself  upon  her  knees  before  him,  catching  him 
by  the  coat,  with  loud  sobs  and  streaming  eyes,  implored 
him  to  assist  her  in  obtaining  a  hearing  with  the  President. 

"General  Mussey,  in  as  tender  a  manner  as  possible, 
informed  Miss  Surratt  that  he  could  not  comply  with  her 
request,  as  President  Johnson's  orders  were  imperative,  and 
he  w^ould  receive  no  one. 

"Upon  General  Mussey' s  returning  to  his  office,  Misa 
Surratt  threw  herself  upon  the  stair  steps,  where  she  re 
mained  a  considerable  length  of  time,  sobbing  aloud  in  the 
greatest  anguish,  protesting  her  mother's  innocence,  and 
imploring  every  one  who  came  near  her  to  intercede  in  her 
mother's  behalf.  While  thus  weeping,  she  declared  her 
mother  was  too  good  and  kind  to  be  guilty  of  the  enormous 
"rime  of  which  she  was  convicted,  and  asserted  that  if  her 
mother  was  put  to  death  she  wished  to  die  also 


346  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

''The  scene  was  heart-rending,  and  many  of  those  who 
witnessed  it,  including  a  number  of  hardy  soldiers,  were 
moved  to  tears.  Miss  Surratt,  having  become  quiet,  was 
finally  persuaded  to  take  a  seat  in  the  East  Room,  and  hero 
she  remained  for  several  hours,  jumping  up  from  her  seat 
each  time  the  front  door  of  the  mansion  was  opened,  evident 
ly  in  hopes  cf  seeing  some  one  enter  who  could  be  of  service 
to  her  in  obtaining  the  desired  interview  with  the  President, 
or  that  they  were  the  bearers  of  good  news  to  her. 

''Two  of  Harold's  sisters,  dressed  in  full  mourning  and 
heavily  veiled,  made  their  appearance  at  the  White  House 
shortly  after  Miss  Surratt,  for  the  purpose  of  interceding 
with  the  President  in  behalf  of  their  brother.  Failing  to  see 
the  President,  they  addressed  a  note  to  Mrs.  Johnson,  and 
expressed  a  hope  that  she  would  not  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  their 
pleadings.  Mrs.  Johnson  being  quite  sick,  it  was  thought 
expedient  by  the  ushers  not  to  deliver  the  note,  when,  as  a 
last  expedient,  the  ladies  asked  permission  to  forward  a  note 
to  Mrs.  Patterson,  the  President's  daughter,  which  privilege 
was  not  granted,  as  Mrs.  Patterson  was  also  quite  indis 
posed. 

"Payne,  during  the  night,  slept  well  for  about  three 
hours,  the  other  portion  of  the  night  being  spent  in  conver 
sation  with  Rev.  Dr.  Gillette,  of  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
who  offered  his  services  as  soon  as  he  was  informed  of  the 
sentence.  Payne,  without  showing  any  particular  emotion, 
paid  close  attention  to  the  advice  of  Dr.  Gillette.  Up  to  ten 
o'clock  this  morning,  no  relations  or  friends  had  been  to  see 
Payne. 

"  Atzeroth  was  very  nervous  throughout  the  night,  and 
did  not  sleep,  although  he  made  several  attempts.  His 
brother  was  to  see  him  yesterday  afternoon,  and  again  this 
morning.  His  aged  mother,  wTho  arrived  during  the  night, 
was  also  present.  The  meeting  of  the  condemned  man  and 
his  mother  was  very  affecting,  and  moved  some  of  the 
officers  of  the  prison,  who  have  become  used  to  trying 
scenes,  to  tears. 

"Rev.  Dr.  Butler,  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  was  sent  for 
last  night,  and  has  been  all  night  ministering  to  Atzeroth. 
Harold  was  visited  yesterday  "by  Rev.  Mr.  Olds,  of  Christ 


EXECUTION  OF  THE  ASSASSINS. 


TEE  EXECUTION.  349 

Episcopal  Church,  and  five  of  his  sisters,  and  this  morning 
the  minister  and  the  entire  family  of  seven  sisters  were  pres 
ent  with  him.     Harold  slept  very  well  several  hours  during 
the  night. 

"Miss  Surratt  was  with  her  mother  several  hours  last 
night,  as  also  Rev.  Fathers  Wiget  and  Walter,  and  Mr.  Bro- 
phy,  who  were  also  present  this  morning.  She  slept  very 
little,  if  any,  and  required  considerable  attention,  suffering 
with  cramps  and  pains  the  entire  night,  caused  by  her  ner 
vousness.  The  breakfast  was  sent  to  the  prisoners  at  the 
usual  hour  this  morning,  but  none  eat,  excepting  Payne, 
who  ate  heartily. 

' '  About  three  thousand  troops  were  employed  in  guard 
ing  the  building  and  its  surroundings. 

"The  execution  ground  was  a  large  square  inclosure, 
called  the  Old  Penitentiary  jail  yard,  directly  south  of  the 
Old  Penitentiary  building.  It  comprises  probably  three 
acres  of  ground,  surrounded  by  a  brick  wall,  about  twenty 
feet  in  height. 

' '  This  wall  is  capped  with  white  stone  and  surmounted 
with  iron  stakes  and  ropes,  to  prevent  the  guard  from  falling 
off  while  patrolling  the  tops  of  the  wall.  The  Sixth  Regi 
ment  Veteran  Volunteers  were  formed  on  the  summit  of  the 
wall  during  the  execution,  and  they  presented  quite  a  pic 
turesque  appearance  in  their  elevated  position. 

"  The  gallows  occupied  a  position  in  the  angle  of  the  in 
closure  formed  by  the  east  wall  and  the  Penitentiary  build 
ing  on  the  north.  The  First  Regiment  Veteran  Volunteers 
were  posted  around  the  gallows,  two  sides  being  formed  by 
the  east  wall  and  the  Penitentiary  building. 

"The  spectators,  about  two  hundred  in  number,  were 
congregated  directly  in  front  of  the  gallows,  the  soldiers 
forming  a  barrier  between  them  and  the  place  of  execution. 
The  criminals  were  led  to  the  scaffold  from  a  small  door 
about  one  hundred  feet  from  the  place  of  execution.  But 
for  a  small  projection  that  runs  south  of  the  Penitentiary 
building,  the  gallows  would  be  in  plain  view  of  the  prison 
ers'  cells,  which  are  all"  on  the  first  floor  of  the  building. 

"It  was  a  noticeable  incident  of  the  execution  that  scarce 
ly  any  Government  officials  or  citizens  were  present,  the 


350  UNITED    STATES    SECRET    SERVICE. 

spectators  being  nearly  all  connected  with  the  trial  in  some 
capacity,  or  else  representatives  of  the  press. 

ltBy  permission  of  the  authorities,  the  daughter  of  Mrs. 
Surratt  passed  the  night  previous  to  the  execution  with  her 
mother,  in  her  cell.  The  entire  interview  was  of  a  very 
affecting  character.  The  daughter  remained  with  her  mother 
until  a  short  time  before  the  execution,  and  when  the  time 
came  for  separation  the  screams  of  anguish  that  burst  from 
the  poor  girl  could  be  distinctly  heard  all  over  the  execution 
ground. 

"During  the  morning  the  daughter  proceeded  to  the 
Metropolitan  Hotel,  and  sought  an  interview  with  General 
Hancock.  Finding  him,  she  implored  him  in  pitiable  accents 
to  get  a  reprieve  for  her  mother.  The  general,  of  course, 
had  no  power  to  grant  or  obtain  such  a  favor,  and  so  in 
formed  the  distressed  girl,  in  as  gentle  a  manner  as  possible. 

"General  Hancock,  with  the  kindness  that  always  char 
acterizes  his  actions  apart  from  the  stern  duties  of  Ms  noble 
profession,  did  his  best  to  assuage  the  mental  anguish  of  the 
grief- stricken  girl. 

"  The  alleged  important  after- discovered  testimony  which 
Aiken,  counsel  for  Mrs.  Surratt,  stated  would  prove  her 
innocence,  was  submitted  to  Judge  Advocate-General  Holt, 
and,  after  a  careful  examination,  he  failed  to  discover  any 
thing  in  it  having  a  bearing  on  the  case.  This  was  commu 
nicated  to  the  President,  and  doubtless  induced  him  to 
decline  to  interfere  in  the  execution  of  Mrs.  Surratt. 

"The  residence  of  Mrs.  Surratt,  on  H  Street,  north,  near 
Sixth,  remained  closed  after  the  announcement  of  her  fate  had 
become  known. 

"  In  the  evening  but  a  single  dim  light  shone  from  one  of 
the  rooms,  while  within  the  house  all  was  as  quiet  as  death 
up  to  about  eight  o'clock,  at  which  hour  Miss  Annie  E.  Sur 
ratt,  who  had  been  in  constant  attendance  upon  her  mother 
drove  up  to  the  door  in  a  hack,  accompanied  by  a  gentle 
man. 

"  She  appeared  to  be  perfectly  crushed  with  grief,  and  as 
she  alighted  from  the  carriage  some  ladies  standing  near  were 
moved  to  tears  of  sympathy  with  the  unfortunate  girl  whose 
every  look  and  action  betrayed  her  anguish. 


THE   EXECUTION.  351 

"Miss  Surratt,  after  gaining  admittance  to  the  house, 
fainted  several  times,  causing  great  bustle  and  excitement 
among  the  inmates,  who  were  untiring  in  their  efforts  to  con 
sole  the  almost  heart-broken  young  lady. 

"From  early  in  the  evening  until  a  late  hour  at  night, 
hundreds  of  persons,  old  and  young,  male  and  female,  visited 
the  vicinity  of  Mrs.  Surratt' s  residence,  stopping  upon  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street,  glancing  over  with  anxious  and 
inquiring  eyes  upon  the  house  in  which  the  conspirators 
met,  commenting  upon  the  fate  of  the  doomed  woman,  and 
the  circumstances  connected  therewith. 

"During  the  evening  not  less  than  five  hundred  persona 
visited  the  spot." 


CHAPTER     XXV. 

THE   DETECTIVE   POLICE   AND   THE   ARREST   0*    THE   ASSASSINS. 

Personal  Relations  to  President  Lincoln — His  Kindness  and  Confidence — My  Order  to 
Pursue  the  Conspirators — Results — Statements  of  Subordinates  and  Others. 

I  SHALL  now  proceed  to  give  a  brief  official  history  of  my 
connection  with  the  arrest  of  the  assassins  of  the  President. 
For  some  weeks  previous  to  the  assassination  I  had  been  on 
duty  in  New  York,  engaged  in  making  investigations  with 
reference  to  frauds  committed  in  the  recruiting  service.  On 
Saturday  morning,  April  15,  while  in  my  room  at  the  Astor 
House,  having  just  risen  to  dress,  Lieutenant  L.  C.  Baker, 
who  had  come  on  from  Washington  the  evening  previous, 
rushed  into  my  room  and  announced  the  fact  that  President 
Lincoln  had  been  assassinated.  This  announcement  called 
to  my  mind  at  once  the  various  communications  containing 
threats  of  assassination  that  had  for  nearly  two  years  been 
received.  The  last  advices  from  Washington,  received  early 
on  Saturday  morning,  simply  announced  that  the  President 
still  lived,  but  no  hopes  were  entertained  of  his  recovery. 
The  feeling  of  indignation  and  sadness  exhibited  by  my 
whole  force,  then  on  duty  in  New  York,  when  I  announced 
to  them  the  fact,  I  have  never  seen  equaled.  We  had  all 
learned  to  love  the  President  as  a  father.  Amid  all  our 
scenes  of  trial,  through  the  prejudice  of  loyal  citizens  and  the 
passion  of  enemies  of  the  Republic,  and  of  detected  crimi 
nals,  we  had  received  the  kindest  treatment  from  Mr.  Lincoln. 
Whenever  he  was  plied  with  charges  against  the  bureau,  he 
vindicated  its  character,  and  affirmed  it  to  be  one  of  the 
necessary  institutions  of  the  civil  war. 

He  never  hastily  accepted  the  opinion  of  the  highest  in 
position,  nor  in  a  single  instance  arraigned  the  national 
polic^  for  its  action,  however  loud  the  clamor  of  the  victims 
of  its  <»rg  us-eyed  vigilance. 


INTENSE   EXCITEMENT   IN    WASHINGTON.  353 

At  twelve  o'clock  on  Saturday,  April  15,  I  received  the 
following  dispatch  from  the  Secretary  of  War  :— 

WASHINGTON,  April  15,  1865. 
Colonel  L.  C.  BAKER:  — 

Come  here  immediately  and  see  if  you  can  find  the  murderer  of  the 
President. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

No  train  left  New  York  by  which  1  could  reach  Wash 
ington  before  the  following  morning.  On  Sunday  morning, 
April  16,  I  arrived  in  Washington.  My  interview  with  the 
Secretary  of  War  was  a  sad  one.  As  I  entered  the  Secretary' s 
office,  and  he  recognized  me,  he  turned  away  to  hide  his 
tears.  He  remarked — uWell,  Baker,  they  have  now  per 
formed  what  they  have  long  threatened  to  do ;  they  have 
killed  the  President.  You  must  go  to  work.  My  whole 
dependence  is  upon  you." 

I  made  some  inquiries  with  reference  to  what  had  been 
done  toward  the  capture  of  the  assassins,  and  ascertained 
that  no  direct  clue  even  had  been  obtained,  beyond  the 
simple  conceded  fact  that  J.  Wilkes  Booth  was  the  assassin 
of  the  President. 

The  popular  excitement  in  Washington  was  fearfully 
intense.  For  the  time  the  gigantic  crime,  and  the  arrest  of 
the  criminals,  put  into  the  background  of  interest  the  crisis 
of  National  affairs  and  the  ordinary  business  of  life.  Every 
face  which  did  not  bear  the  affected  anxiety  or  indifference 
of  Southern  sympathy,  had  the  gloomy,  mournful  aspect  of 
inexpressible,  bewildering  horror  and  grief. 

The  practical  duties  which  engaged  the  exhausting  labors 
of  my  bureau,  and  the  results  that  followed,  between  the  mur 
der  of  the  President  and  the  capture  of  Booth,  are .  narrated 
truthfully  in  the  paper  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  War  :— 

WASHINGTON  CITY.  July  7, 1868. 

On  the  morning  of  April  15,  1865,  while  on  duty  in  New  York  City,  undai 
orders  from  the  War  Department  to  investigate  certain  frauds  in  connectior 
with  the  secret  service,  I  first  heard  of  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln, 
and  attempts  to  assassinate  the  Secretary  of  State.  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
day  before  referred  to,  I  received  a  telegram  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  direct 
ing  me  to  come  to  Washington  by  first  train,  and  bring  ray  detective  employes 
with  mo.  Accordingly,  on  Saturday  evening,  April  15th,  as  directed,  I  came 
to  Washington.  <  >n  Sunday  morning,  the  "Ifith.  I  called  on  the  Secretary  of 


354  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

War,  to  learn  the  particulars  of  the  assassination,  and  what  measures  had 
been  adopted  to  secure  the  capture  of  the  assassins.  I  could  learn  but  little 
beyond  the  simple  tact  that  J.  Wilkes  Booth  was  the  supposed  assassin,  and 
that  Han-old  was  his  accomplice.  *T  asked  if  any  photographs  of  the  supposed 
assassins,  or  descriptions  of  their  persons,  had  been  secured  or  published.  To 
my  surprise  I  learned  that  nothing  of  the  kind  had  been  done  ;  during  the 
afternoon  of  Sunday  rumors  -,were  freely  circulated  throughout  the  city  con 
necting  the  name  of  John  Surratt  and  others  with  the  assassination.  I  imme 
diately  secured  pictures  of  those  mentioned  above,  and  on  Monday  the  17th 
had  them  copied,  with  a  full  and  accurate  description  of  each  assassin  printed 
in  a  circular,  in  which  I  offered  a  reward  of  Ten  Thousand  Dollars.  Thesey 
with  their  photographs  and  descriptions,  I  dispatched  to  a  number  of  detec 
tive  agents  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  I  also  mailed  large  numbers  to  differ 
ent  localities.  These  photographs  and  descriptions  were  the  first  ever  pub 
lished  or  circulated.  At  this  time  it  was  almost  impossible  to  obtain  any 
information  of  a  reliable  character;  the  unparalleled  atrocity  of  this  terrible 
event,  and  the  fact  that  the  assassins  had  for  the  time  being  escaped,  had 
seemingly  paralyzed  the  entire  community.  The  local  detective  force  of  New 
York.  Philadelphia,  Boston,  Baltimore,  and  other  cities,  had  arrived,  and, 
with  the  entire  military  force  of  this  department,  had  reported  to  General 
Augur,  whose  headquarters  were  in  Washington.  On  Monday,  April  18th,  or 
Tuesday  following,  I  dispatched  six  men  of  my  force  into  Lower  Maryland. 
After  being  absent  four  or  five  days,  they  returned,  unsuccessful,  toward  the 
*»ud  of  the  week  succeeding  the  assassination. 

No  reliable  information  having  been  obtained,  so  far  as  I  knew,  concern 
ing  the  whereabouts  of  the  assassins,  and  having  become  thoroughly  convinced 
that  Booth  and  Harrold  had  passed  into  Lower  Maryland  ma  Anacosta  or  Navy 
Yard  Bridge,  within  an  hour  after  the  assassination,  and  being  aware  that 
nearly  every  rod  of  ground  in  Lower  Maryland  must  have  been  repeatedly 
passed  over  by  the  great  number  of  persons  engaged  in  the  search,  I  finally 
decided,  in  my  own  mind,  that  Booth  and  Harrold  must  have  crossed  the  river 
into  Virginia.  After  crossing  they  could  not  go  toward  Richmond  or  down 
the  Potomac,  as  the  Federal  troops  were  then  in  possession  of  that  entire  sec 
tion  of  country ;  the  only  possible  way  left  open  for  escape  was-  to  take  a 
south-western  course,  in  order  to  reach  the  mountains  of  Tennessee  or  Ken 
tucky,  where  such  aid  could  be  secured  as  would  insure  their  ultimate  escape 
from  the  country.  On  examining  the  map, I  ascertained  where  the  principal 
crossings  of  the  Rappahannock  were  located.  On  Sunday  morning,  April 
23'1,  I  asked  Major  Eckert  to  furnish  me  with  a  competent  telegraph  operator, 
and  necessary  apparatus,  with  the  intention  of  opening  an  office  at  Port 
Tobacco.  This  request  was  complied  with,  as  indicated  by  the  note  aD- 
pended : — 

OFFICE  UNITED  STATES  MILITARY  TELEGRAPH,        \ 
WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  April  23,  186&  J 

COLONEL  BAKER: — 

This  will  introduce  to  you  Mr.  Beck  with,  a  cipher  operator,  of  great  scout 
ing  experience,  who  may  be  of  great  service  to  you,  in  addition  to  his  tele 
graphing. 


AN   INTELLIGENT  "CONTRABAND."  355 

I  also  send  with  him  Mr.  Cheney,  a  repair  man,  to  make  speedy  connec 
tions  wherever  it  may  be  found  necessary.     Please  furnish  him  a  side-arm. 

Yours  truly, 

THOS.  F.  EOKEKT. 

Mr.  Beck  with  was  sent  to  me  on  Sunday  afternoon.  This  operator,  with 
two  of  my  detective  agents,  Hubbard  and  Woodall,  left  Washington  on  Sun 
day  afternoon  or  evening,  on  board  the  steamer  Keyport.  They  did  not  reach 
the  landing  at  Port  Tobacco  until  nearly  morning  on  Monday.  There  wua 
brought  to  my  headquarters  a  colored  man,  who  I  was  informed  had  import 
ant  information  respecting  the  assassins.  On  questioning  the  colored  man,  I 
found  he  had  seen  two  men,  answering  the  description  of  Booth  and  Harrold, 
entering  a  small  boat  in  the  vicinity  of  Swan's  Point.  After  a  series  of  ques 
tions  propounded  and  answered  by  this  colored  man,  giving  a  description  of 
the  assassins,  I  was  surprised  to  learn  from  him  that  he  had  three  days  pre 
viously  communicated  precisely  the  same  information  to  some  soldier-men  (as 
he  expressed  it)  then  engaged  in  searching  for  the  assassins,  but  that  the 
soldier-men  called  him  a  dan  ned  black,  lying  nigger,  and  did  not  believe  his 
story.  This  information,  with  my  preconceived  theory  as  to  the  movements 
of  the  assassins,  decided  my  course.  I  wrote  a  note  to  Major-General  Han 
cock,  then  in  command  of  this  Department,  requesting  him  to  send  me  a 
detachment  of  twenty-five  cavalry,  under  charge  of  a  competent,  discreet,  and 
reliable  officer,  to  report  at  my  headquarters  for  duty  as  soon  as  possible.  I 
then  called  Lieutenant-Colonel  Conger  and  Lieutenant  L.  B.  Baker,  formerly 
of  my  regiment  (the  First  District  Cavalry),  and  informed  them  that  I  had 
information  concerning  Booth  and  Harrold,  and  spreading  a  map  of  Virginia 
on  my  table,  with  a  pencil  I  marked  out  the  point  where  I  supposed  the  assas 
sins  crossed,  and  their  course  after  crossing  the  ferry  at  Port  Con  way.  I  then 
remarked,  "I  will  give  you  the  cavalry,  and  don't  come  back  without  them,  for 
they  are  certainly  in  that  vicinity."  About  one  o'clock,  or  soon  after  (the  pre 
cise  time  I  cannot  now  recollect),  a  squad  of  cavalry  rode  up  in  front  of  my 
headquarters ;  the  officer  in  command  dismounted,  and  entered  the  office  and 
inquired,  "  Is  this  Colonel  Baker's  headquarters?"  Some  one  standing  by  said 
"Yes."  I  then  said,  UI  am  Colonel  Baker."  The  officer  said,  "I  am  ordered 
to  report  to  you."  I  asked  the  officer  his  name.  He  replied,  "Lieutenant 
Dougherty."  I  asked,  "What  cavalry  have  you  got?"  He  replied,  "A  de 
tachment  from  the  Sixteenth  New  York  Cavalry."  I  called  Lieutenant 
Dougherty  to  where  Conger  and  Baker  were  standing,  and  said,  "  Lieutenant, 
you  will  act  under  the  orders  and  direction  of  these  two  men,"  referring  to 
Conger  and  Baker.  "You  are  going  after  Booth,  and  have  got  the  only 
reliable  information  concerning  his  whereabouts."  Some  further  conversa 
tion  occurred  respecting  the  cavalry,  rations,  forage,  transportation,  &c.  Aa 
I  intended  and  did  place  the  control  and  management  of  the  expedition  solely 
and  exclusively  under  my  own  men,  I  did  not  deem  it  necessary  to  give  Lieu 
tenant  Dougherty  any  instructions  whatever,  and  only  called  to  my  assistance 
the  military  to  protect  my  men  in  the  execution  of  my  orders  and  instruc 
tions-  This  had  usually  been  the  practice  in  my  bureau  for  two  or  thra* 


356  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE 

years  previously.  The  unsettled  condition  of  affairs  in  the  section  of  Virginia 
to  be  visited  by  the  expedition  made  it  necessary  that  a  military  force  should 
accompany  it,  otherwise  my  plans  for  the  capture  of  the  assassins  could  and 
would  have  been  much  more  promptly  and  satisfactorily  carried  out  and  con 
summated  by  my  detectives — for  Booth  would  have  been  brought  to  Washing 
ton  aline. 

The  expedition  left  Washington  on  the  afternoon  of  Monday,  April  24. 
The  facts  of  the  capture,  killing  of  Booth,  &c.,  having  been  detailed  by  those 
directly  connected  with  and  actual  participators  in  the  same,  I  shall  conclude 
my  statement  by  briefly  referring  to  what  occurred  after  the  capture.  On 
Wednesday,  April  26,  about  5  o ''clock  p.  M.,  Colonel  Conger  arrived  at  my 
headquarters  with  the  first  information  respecting  the  result  of  the  captare 
of  the  assassins.  I  immediately  took  him  to  the  house  of  the  Secretary  of 
War,  when  he  detailed  briefly  the  facts  of  the  pursuit,  capture,  and  killing  of 
Booth,  &c.,  at  the  same  time  handing  to  the  Secretarv  of  War  the  effects,  or 
articles,  taken  from  the  dead  body  of  Booth.  By  direction  of  the  Secretary 
of  War,  with  Colonel  Conger,  I  went  immediately  to  Alexandria,  to  intercept 
and  take  charge  of  the  prisoner  Harrold,  and  the  dead  bodv  of  Booth,  which 
since  the  capture  had  been  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Baker.  About  12  o'clock, 
the  steamer  Ide,  with  the  assassins,  arrived  at  Alexandria.  I  went  on  board, 
and  took  charge  of  the  management  and  disposition  of  the  prisoner  Harrold 
and  body  of  Booth.  It  is  a  well-known  fact,  witli  few  exceptions,  that  as 
soon  as  it  was  publicly  known  that  the  assassins  were  captured,  those  that 
had  been  the  most  persistent  in  forcing  their  claims  before  the  committee 
appointed  to  investigate  the  matter,  entirely  ceased  and  abandoned  all  efforts  to 
procure,  or  even  assist  in  procuring,  the  requisite  proofs  to  convict  the  assas 
sins.  I  desire  to  state  positively  that  the  information  that  prompted  me  to 
send  the  expedition  to  Port  Conway  was  not,  in  any  way,  shape,  or  manner, 
derived  from  the  War  Department,  or  from  any  information  or  intimation 
furnished  by  any  one  connected  with  the  search  for  the  assassins.  I  neither 
saw  nor  knew  the  contents  of  any  telegrams,  letter,  or  memorandums,  refer 
ring  in  the  slightest  mariner  to  the  fact  that  the  murderers  had  crossed  the 
Potomac  River.  I  desire  further  to  state  that  the  information  before  referred 
to  in  this  statement,  and  rny  belief  and  preconceived  theory  as  to  the  intended 
movement  of  the  assassins,  was  the  sole  and  only  incentive  that  prompted  the 
sending  out  of  the  expedition  which  resulted  so  successfully.  My  honest  con 
viction  is,  and  it  is  the  opinion  repeatedly  expressed  by  those  in  authority, 
that,  had  not  this  expedition  reached  the  Garrett  Farm  as  they  did,  on  Wednes 
day  morning,  before  daylight,  Booth  and  Harrold  would  have  escaped  entirely. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

L.  G.  BAKER, 
Late  Brig.-Gen.,  and  Pro. -Mar.  War  Department. 

It  is  well  known  among  the  authorities  at  Washington, 
that  the  preliminary  steps  and  investigations,  with  reference 
to  the  assassination,  had  already  been  taken,  before  my 


INSOLENCE— FL£TCIIER.  357 

arrival  there,  at  General  Augur's  headquarters.  A  commis 
sion,  consisting  of  Colonel  Wells,  Colonel  Foster,  and  Colonel 
Alcott,  wag  then  in  session,  and  all  information,  from  what 
ever  sources  derived,  was  laid  Ibefore  this  commission.  The 
enormity  of  the  crime  committed  by  the  assassins,  and  the 
anxiety  of  t<i-j  public  for  their  arrest,  had  divested  my  mind 
entirely  of  ar.y  thing  like  rivalry  in  the  investigations  going 
on.  I  was  T  ailing,  and  indeed  anxious,  to  work  and  co 
operate  with  any  officer  or  officers  in  the  prosecution  of  this 
investigation.  I  was  even  willing  to  place  myself  under  the 
advice,  counsel,  and  direction  of  any  officer,  whether  mili 
tary  or  civil.  Accordingly,  I  repaired  to  General  Augur'£ 
headquarters,  and  asked  some  questions  with  regard  to  the 
information  already  obtained.  I  was  informed  that  neither 
my  services  nor  the  services  of  my  force  were  required  ;  that 
a  positive  clue  had  been  obtained  as  to  who  the  assassins 
were,  and  their  whereabouts.  After  making  some  further 
inquiries,  to  all  of  which  I  received  either  evasive  or  insult 
ing  replies,  I  determined  to  set  on  foot  an  investigation  under 
my  own  direction.  With  this  view,  I  immediately  obtained 
photographs  of  the  supposed  assassins,  and  had  a  large  num 
ber  of  them  copied,  which  I  sent  in  all  directions.  I  believe 
the  first  clue  obtained  as  to  the  assassins  was  derived  from  a 
man  named  Fletcher,  employed  in  the  livery  stable  of  Mr. 
Naylor,  in  Washington.  Harrold  had,  on  the  afternoon  pre 
vious  to  the  evening  of  the  assassination,  hired  a  horse  at 
Mr.  Naylor's  stable.  Mr.  Naylor,  fearing  that  Harrold 
would  run  away  with  the  horse,  had  sent  Fletcher  to  ^atch 
him.  The  evidence  of  Fletcher,  given  before  the  commission 
on  the  trial  of  the  assassins,  shows  that  he  went  to  the  Navy 
Yard  bridge.  The  bridge  being  guarded  by  a  military  force, 
and  having  no  pass,  he  could  not  cross  ;  but  he  learned  that 
two  suspicious  characters  had  just  crossed  on  horseback. 
He  returned  to  General  Augur's  headquarters  about  one 
o'clock  on  Saturday  morning,  and  reported  the  fact.  Here 
begins  the  first  series  of  blunders  in  this  attempted  search 
for  the  assassins.  Fletcher's  statement  was  entirely  disre 
garded.  No  steps  were  taken  by  those  in  possession  of  this 
information  to  follow  up  the  clue  thus  given  until  sixteen 
hours  afterward.  This  delay  enabled  the  assassins  to  get 


358  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

entirely  beyond  the  reach  of  those  sent  in  pursuit.     On  Sun 
day,  at  ten  o'clock,  I  received  the  following  information  :— 

BALTIMOSE,  April  16, 1865. 

The  following  information  has  just  been  received  from  Polk  Gardner,  a 
lad  who  left  Upper  Marlborough,  Prince  George  County,  on  Friday  night,  to 
come  here  to  see  his  father,  who  is  dying.  On  the  road,  about  four  miles 
from  Washington,  he  met  a  man  on  a  roan  horse,  who  inquired  the  way  to 
Upper  Marlborough,  and  whether  he  had  seen  a  man  riding  rapidly  in  that 
direction.  About  two  miles  from  Washington  he  met  another  man,  on  a  bay 
horse,  who  also  inquired  the  road  to  Upper  Marlborough,  and  asked  him  if  he 
had  seen  a  man  riding  in  that  direction.  The  last  named  then  rode  on  rapidly. 
This  occurred  at  eleven  o'clock,  or  a  little  later. 

The  steamer  Commerce  left  here  yesterday  morning  at  six  o'clock,  without 
passengers,  but  with  a  guard  and  shrewd  officer,  with  orders  to  make  her 
usual  trip  and  take  in  all  passengers  that  presented  themselves,  and  then 
secure  them  and  bring  them  all  here.  As  she  goes  to  Upper  Marlborough, 
stopping  at  Benedict  and  other  places,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the  guil*y  parties 
may  be  caught. 

I  immediately  sent  for  Polk  Gardner,  and  had  his  state 
ment  taken.  The  description  given  of  the  horses — to  wit, 
Dne  bay  and  one  roan — corresponded  exactly  with  the  de 
scription  furnished  by  Fletcher  of  the  horses  hired  from 
N~aylor's  stable.  This,  with  Fletcher's  statement,  furnished 
to  my  mind  conclusive  evidence  that  the  assassins  had  gone 
in  the  direction  of  Lower  Maryland. 

It  is  proper  to  state,  in  this  connection,  that  a  large  mili 
tary  force,  consisting  of  a  whole  brigade  of  infantry  and 
over  one  thousand  cavalry,  together  with  over  two  hundred 
detectives  and  citizens,  had  gone  into  Lower  Maryland.  My 
force  being  small  at  the  time,  many  of  them  being  engaged  in 
the  Western  States  in  pursuit  of  criminals,  I  sent  a  small 
detachment  of  detectives  with  photographs  and  circulars  into 
Lower  Maryland.  They  were  absent  four  or  five  days,  and 
returned  with  no  clue  to  the  assassins.  The  community  were 
becoming  impatient  at  the  delay  in  the  capture  of  the  assas 
sins,  and  beginning  to  fear  that  they  would  finally  escape. 
On  Sunday  morning,  the  23d  of  April,  I  sent  the  following 
note  to  Major- General  Hancock : — 

WAE  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON  CITY,  ApiilVA,  1866. 
>4;ijor-G-enerai  HANOOOK,  United  States  Army: — 

GENERAL — I  am  directed  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  apply  to  you  for  a 


THE   PURSUIT  BEGUN.  359 

uniall  cavalry  force  of  twenty-five  (25)  men,  well  mounted,  to  be  commanded 
by  a  reliable  and  discreet  commissioned  officer. 

Can  you  furnish  them?  and  if  so,  will  you  please  direct  the  officer  com 
manding  the  squad  to  report  to  me  with  the  men  at  No.  217  Pennsylvania 
A.  venue,  opposite  Willard's  Hotel,  at  once? 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  L.  C.  BAKER, 

Colonel,  and  Agent  "War  Department. 
Official  : 

S.  WALKER,  A.  A.  General. 


In  response  to  this  communication,  the  cavalry  arrived  at 
my  headquarters.  I  immediately  called  into  my  private 
office  two  of  my  detective  officers  —  Colonel  Conger  and  Lieu 
tenant  Baker  —  and  informed  them  that  I  had  information  that 
Booth  and  Harrold  had  crossed  the  Potomac,  at  the  same 
time  pointing  out  with  a  pencil  the  place  on  a  map  where 
they  had  crossed,  and  where  I  believed  they  would  be 
found.  Lieutenant  Dougherty,  of  the  Sixteenth  New  York 
Cavalry,  who  commanded  this  squad,  was  introduced  to 
Colonel  Conger  and  Lieutenant  Baker,  with  the  following 
remark  :  —  "  You  are  going  in  pursuit  of  the  assassins.  You 
have  the  latest  reliable  information  concerning  them.  Yon 
will  act  under  the  orders  of  Colonel  Conger." 

I  then  dispatched  a  messenger  to  the  quartermaster  at 
Sixth  Street  wharf,  with  a  request  to  furnish  a  boat  as  soon 
as  possible,  to  take  a  squad  of  cavalry  down  the  Potomac. 
The  messenger  returned,  bringing  the  following  communica 
tion  from  Captain  Allen,  the  quartermaster  :— 


ASSISTANT  QUARTERMASTER'S  OFFICE,  1 

RIVER  TRANSPORTATION,  SIXTH  STREET  WHARF,   > 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  April  22,  1S66.  \ 

Colonel  L.  C.  BAKER,  Agent  War  Department: — 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  I  will  have  a  boat  ready  for  yo« 
at  four  p.  M.  this  day. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  S.  ALLEN, 
Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster. 

The  expedition  left  Washington  on  board  the  steamer 
Ide,  about  four  o'clock.  The  facts  and  incidents  connected 
with  the  pursuit  and  capture  of  the  assassins,  from  this  time 
until  the  body  of  Booth  was  returned  to  Washington,  and 


360  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

placed  in  my  possession,  I  will  leave  to  be  detailed  by 
Colonel  Conger  and  Lieutenant  Baker  :  — 


,  D.  0.,  December  24,  1865. 
To  the  Hon.  E.  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War:  — 

gIR  —  Under  General  Order  No.  164,  in  reference  to  the  rewards  offered  by 
the  Secretary  of  War  for  the  apprehension  of  Booth  and  Harrold,  the  assassins 
of  the  late  President,  E.  J.  Conger,  late  a  lieutenant-colonel,  and  L.  B.  Baker, 
late  a  lieutenant,  beg  to  submit  the  following  narrative  of  the  events  of  that 
service  :  — 

They  \\ere  important  actors  in  the  pursuit  and  capture  of  those  parties, 
and  themselves  did,  and  saw  others  do,  every  thing  that  went  to  make  up 
that  enterprise,  from  its  inception  in  the  brain  of  its  projector  and  master 
spirit,  until  the  bodies  of  the  two  fugitives,  living  and  dead,  were  delivered 
into  the  hands  of  the  Department  of  War  ;  and  it  is  that  this  narrative  may, 
in  some  degree,  help  to  the  proper  appreciation  of  the  services  of  the  parties 
to  whose  hands  the  chief  of  the  Detective  Bureau  committed  the  execution 
of  his  plans. 

General  Baker,  under  the  orders  of  the  Department,  reported  at  Washing 
ton  for  duty  Sunday  morning,  April  16th.  lie  was  accompanied  by  Lieuten 
ant  Baker,  and  joined  by  Colonel  Conger  the  Monday  following.  Both  of 
these  gentlemen,  then  private  citizens,  were  taken  into  service  by  General 
Baker,  and  assigned,  under  his  immediate  orders,  to  the  special  duty  of  the 
subject  of  this  statement. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  General  Baker,  he  found  the  entire  field  occupied  by  a 
numerous  corps  of  detectives,  whom  the  importance  of  the  service  and  the 
calls  of  the  Government  had  assembled  from  various  points,  and  in  whose 
hands  seemed  to  be  all  the  various  sources  of  information,  and  the  clues  to  all 
that  was  known  or  suspected,  then  at  command. 

He  found,  upon  approaching  these  parties,  that  they  were  unwilling  to 
impart  to  him  their  information,  receive  him  into  confidence,  and  share  with 
him  their  counsels;  and  with  such  slender  information  as  was  then  in  the 
personal  possession  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  the  chief  of  the  Military  Bureau 
was  obliged  to  take  the  case  up  from  the  beginning  ;  and  after  the  field  had 
been  gone  over  and  gleaned  by  other  hands  and  the  footprints  of  the  assassins 
effaced  or  lost. 

It  was  an  accepted  fact  that  Booth  was  the  immediate  assassin  of  the 
President,  and  that  Harrold  was  his  accomplice,  and  shared  his  flight  or  place 
•f  concealment. 

A  careful  analysis  of  all  that  could  be  ascertained  satisfied  General  Baker 
that  these  parties  had  fled,  and  would  probably  attempt  to  escape  across  the 
Lower  Potomac;  and  his  first  efforts  were  directed  to  securing  the  accurate 
likenesses  of  Booth  and  Harrold,  as  well  as  of  others,  and  a  full  and  minute 
description  of  their  persons.  These  likenesses  were  taken,  and  printed  —  the 
first  and  only  ones  issued  of  these  parties  —  he  caused  to  be  extensively  circu 
lated  in  every  direction  likely  to  be  taken  by  the  fugitives  ;  in  particular 


GENERAL   BAKER   AT   WORK. 

Lieutenant  Baker  was  detailed,  with  five  or  six  active  and  reliable  men,  to 
traverse  Lower  Maryland  and  distribute  them.  lie  was  also  to  examine  and 
note  every  possible  indication  of  the  presence  of  the  parties,  or  other  suspect 
ed  persons,  from  which  labor  he  returned  the  Saturday  following,  having 
explored  the  whole  region  unsuccessfully,  while  the  chief  remained  at  head 
quarters,  with  Colonel  Conger  and  other  assistants,  constantly,  anxiously,  and 
exhaustively  collating  and  exploring  every  outside  rumor,  theory,  and  source 
of  information  that  sleepless  labor,  vigilance,  and  experienced  sagacity  could 
compass. 

It  is  out  of  place  here,  perhaps,  to  refer  to  the  weight  of  indignant  an4 
impotent  grief  that  was  added  to  a  nation's  sorrow  for  its  loss,  as  the  convic 
tion  settled  upon  the  hearts  of  men  that  the  murderers  had  escaped — that 
the  resources  and  ingenuity  of  the  police  of  the  nation,  aroused  by  a  huge 
crime,  and  made  active  by  the  temptation  of  a  great  money  reward,  were 
baffled. 

"While  this  feeling  was  hardening  into  certainty,  the  energy  and  determin 
ation  of  the  chief  of  the  military  detectives  were  preparing  more  effective 
efforts. 

On  Monday,  the  24th,  General  Baker,  steady  in  the  opinion  he  had  formed, 
sent  one  of  his  men,  Theodore  "Woodall,  with  a  telegraph  operator,  into 
Lower  Maryland  with  his  instruments,  to  be  attached  to  the  wire  at  given 
points,  and  thus  enable  him  to  communicate,  without  loss  of  time,  with  that 

region.  Woodall,  while  on  this  duty,  fell  in  with ,  an  old  negro, 

whose  statement  so  impressed  him,  that,  instead  of  sending  it  by  telegraph  to 
Washington,  he  took  and  delivered  him  bodily  to  his  superior. 

The  examination  of  the  colored  man  satisfied  General  Baker  that  he  had 
at  last  struck  the  trail  of  the  fleeing  murderers.  That  they  had  crossed  the 
Potomac,  near  Matthews  Point,  on  Saturday  night,  the  22d  of  April,  and  that 
Booth  was  lame. 

A  hasty  interview  with  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  Colonel  Conger  was 
sent  with  a  note  from  General  Baker  to  General  Hancock  for  a  commissioned 
officer  and  twenty-five  cavalry,  to  report  immediately  to  General  Baker,  foi 
duty  under  his  command,  while  Lieutenant  Baker  made  the  necessary  arrange 
ments  with  the  Quartermaster's  Department  for  transportation  down  th^ 
Potomac.  Upon  their  return  from  these  duties,  General  Baker  fully  ex 
plained  to  them  the  information  on  which  he  was  acting,  and,  with  the  aid 
of  a  map,  pointed  out  with  care  the  place  of  Booth  and  Ilarrold's  crossing  and 
'.heir  probable  course  and  plans,  and  told  them  he  was  about  to  send  them  in 
pursuit ;  that  they  tvere  to  have  full  charge  of  the  expedition,  and  that  the 
cavalry  force  would  go,  subject  to  their  orders;  that  the  expedition  was  to 
start  the  moment  it  could  be  got  ready.  It  was  to  go  down  to  Belle  Plains, 
and,  if  there  was  no  dock  for  landing  at  that  point,  to  go  to  Aquia  Creek, 
and  if  the  dock  had  been  destroyed  there,  that  the  horses  must  be  made  to 
take  the  water,  for  in  no  event  must  they  go  below ;  onco  on  land,  they  must 
act  on  their  own  judgment  and  discretion  ;  that  they  must,  if  possible,  dis 
cover  the  trail  of  Booth  and  Harrold,  and,  once  upon  it,  must  push  forward  to 
their  capture  over  all  obstacles;  that  the  cavalry  would  go  with  nothing  but 


362  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

their  arras,  and  men  and  horses  must  not  be  spared ;  that  he  knew  Conger 
and  Lieutenant  Baker,  and  had  entire  confidence  in  their  judgment,  sagacity, 
and  courage,  and  committed  the  enterprise  fully  to  them. 

About  two  P.  M.  of  the  24th,  Lieutenant  Dougherty  of  the  Sixteenth  New 
York  Cavalry,  reported  to  General  Baker  for  orders,  and  was  by  him  intro 
duced  to  Colonel  Conger  and  Lieutenant  Baker ;  General  Baker  told  him  that 
he  was  to  be  sent  with  him  in  pursuit  of  Booth  and  Harrold ;  that  they  had 
full  information  and  instructions  as  to  the  service,  and  would  have  the  direc 
tion  of  it,  and  he  must  render  them  all  the  assistance  in  his  power.  No  other 
01  further  orders  were  given  by  General  Baker  to  Lieutenant  Dougherty,  nor 
were  explanations  made  to  him  about  the  service  by  General  Baker,  nor  by 
Colonel  Conger  nor  Lieutenant  Baker. 

The  party  left  Washington  about  sundown  on  the  evening  of  the  24th,  on 
steamer  Ide ;  arrived  at  Belle  Plains  about  ten  in  the  evening  and  landed. 
Colonel  Conger,  while  in  service,  having  been  the  senior  of  Lieutenant  Baker 
in  the  same  cavalry  regiment,  and  of  large  experience,  by  tacit  consent  as 
between  them,  took  the  main  direction  of  affairs  when  present.  In  his 
absence,  Lieutenant  Baker  was  the  acknowledged  director  of  the  expedition. 

Colonel  Conger  refused  to  have  an  advanced  guard,  but  himself  and  Lieu 
tenant  Baker  took  the  lead.  At  the  divergence  of  the  roads,  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  river,  the  party  took  that  which  led  to  the  Rappahannock.  Conger 
went  to  almost  every  house  they  passed  during  the  night.  He  called  himself 
Boyd,  a  brother  of  the  Maryland  Boyd,  who  had  been  killed.  Said  his  party 
were  rebels,  trying  to  avoid  the  Union  soldiers  and  escape  into  the  interior. 
That  they  had  been  scattered,  and  he  had  lost  some  of  his  companions,  one 
of  whom  was  lame,  and  they  were  anxious  to  learn  of  his  whereabouts,  &c. 
lie  inquired  who  had  crossed  the  Rappahannock,  and  where;  and  the  location 
of  all  the  crossings,  whether  by  ferry  or  ford ;  also  about  all  the  doctors,  as 
they  supposed  Booth  would  seek  the  aid  of  some  of  them.  Nothing  was 
learned  during  the  night.  Daylight  disclosed  the  character  of  the  party,  and 
changed  the  tactics  of  the  leaders. 

The  party  arrived,  without  incident  or  information  bearing  on  the  service, 
at  Point  Conway  on  the  Rappahannock,  opposite  Port  Royal,  about  twelve 
o'clock,  when  they  halted  for  thirty  minutes. 

While  resting  here,  Lieutenant  Baker  went  to  the  ferry,  near  which  he 
fell  in  with  a  man  who  gave  his  name  as  Rollins.  A  conversation  ensued, 
m  which  Lieutenant  Baker  showed  him  the  likeness  of  Booth,  which  Rollins 
recognized  as  one  of  the  party  who  crossed  the  day  before,  except  that  that 
man  had  no  moustache.  He  also  recognized  the  likeness  of  Harrold.  Colonel 
Conger  was  sent  for,  and  took  Rolling's  statement,  now  on  file  in  the  Judge- 
Advocate-GeneraPs  office.  The  substance  was,  that  Booth  and  Harrold  arrived 
there  the  day  before,  late  in  the  afternoon,  in  an  old  wagon  driven  by  a  negro, 
and  wanted  to  go  on.  Booth  was  lame,  and  would  give  him,  Rollins,  ten 
dollars  in  gold  to  take  them  on  to  Bowling  Green,  fifeeen  miles  toward 
Orange  Court  House.  Meantime  three  rebels  came  up  on  horseback,  Bain- 
bridge,  Ruggles,  and  Jett,  who  had  a  conversation  with  Booth  and  Harrold,  and 
agreed  to  help  them  on,  and  did  so.  As  some  of  that  party  resided  at  Bow* 


HALF-WAY   HOUSE— BOWLING   GREEN.  303 

ing  Green,  it  was  supposed  that  Booth  and  Ilarrold  would  be  taken  there  by 
them.  Rollins  was  willing  to  go  as  a  guide  for  Conger  and  Baker,  and  was 
put  under  arrest  to  save  appearances. 

The  expedition  was  ferried  over  the  river  with  as  little  delay  as  possib'e, 
and  pickets  posted  to  prevent  any  parties  leaving  Port  Royal  till  the  partj 
was  again  in  motion.  After  passing  the  river  a  short  distance,  two  men  were 
discovered  on  horseback,  as  if  observing  the  party,  to  whom  Conger  and 
Baker  gave  chase.  After  pursuing  them  about  two  miles,  they  plunged  into 
the  woods  and  disappeared. 

The  command  reached  the  u  Half-way  House,1'  so-called,  a  solitary  build 
ing,  about  nine  in  the  evening.  The  occupants,  four  or  five  young  women, 
raised  and  kept  up  such  a  clamor,  that  Conger's  and  Baker's  inquiries  were  a 
"pursuit  of  knowledge  under  difficulties,"  until  one  of  them  said  that  they 
were  looking  for  a  party  that  had  committed  an  outrage  on  a  girl,  which  led 
to  their  being  told  that  a  party  of  five  men,  describing  them,  with  three 
horses,  had  called  there  the  day  before  and  taken  drinks,  and  that  they  all 
came  back  but  one.  The  supposition  was  that  Booth,  the  principal,  had  been 
left  at  Bowling  Green.  Once  more  in  the  saddle,  horses  exhausted,  and  men 
weary,  hungry,  and  sleepy,  the  command  pushed  forward,  and  reached  Bowlin-g 
Green  between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock. 

The  one  hotel,  where  Booth  might  be,  a  large,  rambling,  utterly  silent  and 
dark  building,  was  surrounded  by  the  dismounted  cavalry,  and  a  vain  effort 
made  to  arouse  the  inmates,  if  occupants  it  had. 

A  negro  finally  conducted  Colonel  Conger  to  a  shanty  in  the  rear,  where 
another  negro  told  him  that  a  woman  and  her  daughter  occupied  the  tavern, 
and  that  Jett  was  there  also. 

Colonel  Conger  entered  the  house  and  found  his  way  to  Jett's  room  and 
arrested  him,  when  he  was  joined  by  Baker  and  Lieutenant  Dougherty.  Jett 
was  alarmed,  wanted  to  see  the  commander  of  the  party,  and  was  referred  to 
Colonel  Conger.  Baker  and  Lieutenant  Dougherty  withdrew,  when  Jett  said 
he  knew  what  Colonel  Conger  wanted  ;  he  wanted  Booth  and  Harrold,  and 
he,  Jett,  could  take  him  and  show  him  where  they  were. 

He  wanted  assurances  of  personal  safety,  and  Colonel  Conger  gave  them. 
Jett  dressed,  and  on  joining  Lieutenant  Bake-r,  he  told  them,  Conger  and 
Baker,  that  Booth  and  Harrold  were  about  three  miles  from  Port  Royal,  at 
Garrett's.  And  on  being  told  that  the  party  had  just  passed  along  there,  he 
was  disconcerted,  for  he  had  supposed  that  they  came  from  Richmond,  and 
*bund  that  their  coming  from  Port  Royal  had  frightened  Booth  and  Ilarrold 
away,  as  it  had. 

Upon  remounting  the  party,  it  was  found  that  one  or  two  of  the  men  had 
straggled,  and  two  or  three  others  were  left  to  look  them  up.  The  object  of 
the  return  was  not  made  known  to  Lieutenant  Dougherty  until  near  Garrett's 
house. 

The  party  reached  the  lane  that  led  from  the  road  to  Garrett's  house 
about  two  A.  M.,  of  the  20th.  During  the  time  that  Conger  and  Baker  were 
exploring  the  way  to  the  house,  the  men  had  dismounted,  thrown  themselves 
on  the  ground.  JMH!  gone  to  sleep;  and  it  was  with  much  exertion  that  they 


;^4  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

were  aroused  and  got  in  motion  again.  The  house  was  surrounded,  and,  in 
response  to  the  summons  of  Lieutenant  Baker,  the  elder  Garrett  appeared, 
struck  a  light,  and  said,  in  reply  to  Baker's  inquiry,  that  the  two  men  had 
gone  off  into  the  woods.  At  the  approach  of  Colonel  Conger,  a  son  of  Gar- 
rett's  came  up  and  said  t>  e  men  were  in  the  barn,  and  offered  to  show  them 
where  they  were.  The  party  proceeded  to  the  barn,  Lieutenant  Baker  with 
i  lighted  candle,  and  having  the  young  Garrett  in  custody. 

The  barn,  with  the  buildings  near  it,  were  as  promptly  and  effectually 
<crrounded  as  the  condition  and  discipline  of  the  command  would  per 
mit. 

The  barn,  as  it  was  called,  was  in  fact  an  old  tobacco-house,  perhaps  sixty 
feet  square,  weather-boarded,  with  large  doors  in  the  middle  of  the  front  side, 
and  in  one  of  which  was  a  smaller  door ;  a  barn,  a  shed,  with  other  buildings, 
were  near  this  building.  Colonel  Conger  and  Lieutenant  Dougherty  placed 
the  dismounted  soldiers  about  the  buildings,  while  Lieutenant  Baker  with 
young  Garrett  approached  the  door  with  the  candle,  when  young  Garrett 
remembered  that  the  door  was  locked  on  the  outside.  Another  young  Gar 
rett  then  came  up  and  was  sent  by  Baker  for  the  key.  When  the  key  arrived, 
Lieutenant  Baker  in  a  loud  voice  said  to  Garrett,  u  Go  in  and  tell  the  men  to 
come  out  and  surrender."  He  said  he  was  afraid;  the  men  were  armed  with 
pistols  and  carbines,  and  would  shoot  him.  Lieutenant  Baker,  then  addressing 
the  parties  inside,  said,  "We  are  going  to  send  in  the  men  in  whose  custody 
you  are  to  demand  your  arms  and  surrender."  Baker  then  unlocked  the 
door,  and  Garrett,  in  much  trepidation,  went  in ;  and  Baker  heard  a  mumbled 
conversation  inside,  Booth  finally  saying,  "  Get  out  of  here  or  I  will  shoot  you. 
Damn  you,  you  have  betrayed  me,"  and  Garrett  came  back  much  frightened, 
and  was  let  out,  saying  that  Booth  was  going  to  shoot  him,  and  "  You  may 
burn  the  barn."  Something  had  been  before  said  about  burning  the  barn, 
partly  to  alarm  Booth  and  Harrold,  and  as  one  of  the  means  that  might 
ultimately  be  resorted  to,  to  which  young  Garrett  had  objected. 

In  the  mean  time,  it  had  occurred  to  Conger  and  Baker,  that  in  the  event 
of  an  attempt  to  escape  by  Booth  and  Harrold  at  the  door,  and  which  would 
bring  on  a  general  contest,  that  it  would  be  very  likely  to  draw  the  fire  of 
the  soldiers  nearest,  which  would  endanger  them  quite  as  much  as  it  would 
Booth  and  Harrold,  and  as  a  precaution  for  their  own  safety,  they  removed 
all  the  soldiers  from  the  front  of  the  building,  and  all  whose  posts  were  such 
*s  to  command  a  view  of  the  area  immediately  about  the  door. 

Colonel  Conger  also  found  on  his  rounds  one  man  who  refused  to  do  duty, 
because  he  was  without  arms — took  none  with  him,  but  was  supplied  with  a 
pistol  on  the  ground.  It  was  also  found  necessary  to  place  a  rail  or  pole, 
or  some  other  object,  on  the  ground,  to  indicate  to  each  man  his  position,  and 
they  were  ordered  by  Colonel  Conger,  personally,  not  to  leave  their  posts  on 
any  pretext  whatever  without  orders.  Lieutenant  Dougherty  was  most  of 
the  time,  in  the  early  part  of  the  affair,  at  the  barn,  and  took  a  position  under 
an  open  shed,  not  far  from  the  building ;  and  there  consulted  about  burning 
the  barn.  Colonel  Conger  had  ordered  one  of  the  young  Garretts  to  deposit 
a  quantity  of  brush  against  an  angle  of  the  barn,  but  at  a  point  where  he  did 


DEATH   OF  J.  W.  BOOTH.  365 

not  intend  to  fire  it,  and  for  the  purpose  of  distracting  the  attention  of  Booth, 
and  to  mislead  him. 

Understanding  what  Garrett  was  doing,  Booth  threatened  to  shoot  him  if 
he  did  not  desist.  lie  also  twice  offered  to  Lieutenant  Baker  that  if  he  would 
withdraw  his  men  fifty  yards  he  would  come  out  and  fight  him. 

Harrold  finally  came  to  the  door,  offered  to  surrender,  and  Lieutenant 
Baker  opened  it,  took  him  by  the  hands,  pulled  him  out,  called  Lieutenant 
Dougherty  and  turned  him  over  to  him. 

As  a  more  effective  means  to  insure  the  capture  of  Booth,  it  was  finally 
determined  to  set  the  building  on  fire.  There  was  on  the  floor  a  quantity  of 
litter,  thrown  in  a  loose  pile  against  one  side  near  an  angle.  From  an  opening 
at  this  Colonel  Conger  drew  out  some  straw,  twisted  it,  set  it  on  fire,  and 
instantly  the  whole  mass  was  in  flames.  Under  the  eye  of  Colonel  Conger, 
Booth  immediately  approached  the  fire,  with  a  carbine  in  both  hands,  as  if  to 
fire,  and  cast  his  eye  up  and  down  the  opening  between  the  boards,  but  with  the 
intense  light  between  him  and  the  opening,  and  the  darkness  without,  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  see  any  thing  outside.  He  paused,  dropped  his  hands, 
his  iiead  fell,  as  if  in  thought,  and  he  then  turned  and  went  toward  the  door. 
Colonel  Conger  immediately  started  around  the  building,  to  reach  the  same 
point,  when,  on  his  way,  he  heard  a  pistol-shot,  and  upon  going  round  he  found 
Lieutenant  Baker  standing  over  the  body  of  Booth,  near  the  center  of  the 
building,  and  where  he  obviously  had  been  in  no  position  to  injure  anybody. 
Colonel  Conger  at  first  supposed,  and  so  said,  that  Booth  had  shot  himself. 

At  the  moment  of  firing  the  barn,  Lieutenant  Baker  opened  the  door,  and 
saw  Booth  just  as  he  turned  from  the  fire,  when  he  dropped  his  crutch,  and 
came  with  a  rapid,  halting  walk,  toward  the  door;  when  within  twelve  or 
fifteen  feet  of  the  door,  with  his  carbine  in  his  hand,  he  received  the  shot,  and 
fell.  Baker  rushed  to  him,  seized  him  by  the  arm,  and  was  there  found  by 
Conger.  Lieutenant  Baker  saw  that  the  shot  was  from  some  one  outside, 
and  remarked  to  Conger  that  "the  man  who  fired  it  should  go  back  to  Wash 
ington  under  arrest." 

Sergeant  Boston  Corbitt,  who  fired  the  shot,  had  been  placed  by  Colonel 
Conger  about  thirty  feet  from  the  barn,  with  orders  not  to  leave  his  post  on 
any  pretext.  Yet  he  did  leave  it,  and  approach  the  barn,  when  without 
order,  pretext  or  excuse,  he  shot  Booth. 

The  communications  from  the  party  of  Conger  and  Baker,  to  Booth  and 
llarrold,  in  the  barn,  were  made  entirely  through  Lieutenant  Baker.  It  is 
believed  that  no  other  one  of  the  party  addressed  them,.  Much  more  passed 
between  them  than  is  stated  above.  Among  other  things,  Booth  said  to 
Baker,  whom  he  addressed  as  u  Captain,"  "I  could  have  shot  you  five  or  six 
times,  but  I  believe  you  to  be  a  brave  and  honorable  man,  and  I  will  not  hart 
you." 

To  the  offers  of  Booth  to  come  out  and  fight,  Lieutenant  Baker  replied 
that  "  we  did  not  come  to  fight  you«but  to  capture  you." 

The  few  words  and  incoherent  mutterings  of  the  dying  Booth  are  of  no 
value  in  this  narrative.  Nor  does  it  seem  requisite  to  correct  and  contradict, 
to  any  great  extent,  the  statements  of  some  of  the  parties  present,  as  to  the 


366  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

details  of  the  transaction,  and  their  own  part  in  it.  Lieutenant  Dougherty  waa 
the  mere  commander  of  the  soldiers,  under  Colonel  Conger  or  Lieutenant 
Baker,  the  former  of  whom  often  gave  orders  directly  to  them.  At  the  barn, 
Lieutenant  Dougherty  took  no  part  in  the  communications  with  Booth  and 
Ilarrold,  and  was  absent  from  the  door  when  Booth  was  shot. 

As  soon  after  the  termination  of  the  affair  as  possible,  Colonel  Conger,  in 
.possession  of  Booth's  diary,  papers,  &c.,  started  for  Washington,  where  he 
reported  to  General  Baker,  about  four  p.  M.  of  the  20th,  leaving  Lieutenant 
Baker  with  the  body  of  Booth,  and  Ilarrold  under  arrest,  under  the  escort  of 
Lieutenant  Dougherty  and  the  cavalry,  to  make  their  slower  way  back,  which 
was  accomplished  with  little  delay,  the  party  arriving  before  daylight  of  the 
27th. 

On  Wednesday  afternoon,  April  26th,  about  five  o'clock, 
Colonel  Conger  came  to  my  headquarters,  and,  in  a  low 
whisper,  announced  the  capture  of  Booth  and  Harrold, 
adding  that  the  former  was  shot.  It  is  not  often  that  I  am 
unbalanced  by  tidings  of  any  sort ;  but  I  sprang  to  my  feet, 
and  across  the  room,  and  felt  like  raising  a  shout  of  joy  over 
the  triumph  of  justice,  and  the  relief  to  millions  of  burdened 
hearts  which  would  attend  the  tidings  over  the  land.  I 
immediately  called  for  a  carriage,  took  Colonel  Conger  with 
me,  and  drove  to  the  house  of  the  Secretary  of  War.  He 
had  been  very  despondent  regarding  the  capture,  and  had 
often  spoken  of  the  disgrace  it  would  be  if  the  base  assassins 
should  escape.  When  I  entered  the  room  he  was  lying  upon 
a  sofa.  I  had  in  my  hand  Booth's  two  pistols,  his  belt, 
fcnife,  and  compass  —  the  latter  all  covered  with  tallow, 
where  he  had  held  the  light  up  at  night,  to  see  in  what 
direction  he  was  going — his  pipe,  and  his  diary.  I  rushed 
into  the  room,  and  said,  "  We  have  got  Booth."  Secretary 
Stanton  was  distinguished  during  the  whole  war  for  his 
coolness,  but  I  had  never  seen  such  an  exhibition  of  it  in 
my  life  as  at  that  time.  He  put  his  hands  over  his  eyes, 
and  lay  for  nearly  a  moment  without  saying  a  word.  Then 
he  got  up  and  put  on  his  coat  very  coolly.  In  the  mean 
time  I  had  laid  on  his  table  all  the  effects  that  had  been 
taken  from  Booth.  He  asked  where  he  was  captured.  I 
said,  "Near  Port  Conway,  beyond  the  Rappahannock  in  Vir 
ginia.  Here  are  the  things  found  on  Booth's  body."  Colo- 


THE   CORPSE— IDENTIFICATION.  M9 

Tiel  Conger  gave  the  Secretary  a  brief  statement  of  the 
capture.  The  Secretary  directed  me  to  take  a  boat  and  go 
to  Alexandria  and  meet  the  boat  that  was  bringing  the  body 
up.  Accordingly  I  proceeded  to  Alexandria,  and  at  twenty 
minutes  to  eleven  o'clock  the  steamer  /de,  having  on  board 
the  assassin  Harrold  and  the  dead  body  of  Booth,  with  Lieu  - j 
tenant  Baker  in  charge,  arrived.  The  Secretary  had  directed 
that  the  boat  conveying  the  assassins  should  go  directly  to 
the  Navy  Yard,  and  that  the  prisoner  Harrold  and  the  body 
of  Booth  should  be  placed  on  board  a  gunboat,  as  will  be 
shown  by  the  following  order  : — 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON  CITY,  April  26,  1866. 
To  the  Commandant  of  the  Washington  Navy  Yard  : — 

Let  Colonel  Baker  come  into  the  Navy  Yard  wharf  and  alongside  the  Iron 
clad,  to  place  one  or  two  prisoners  on  board. 

EDWIN  M.  ST ANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

We  proceeded  to  the  Navy  Yard,  and  at  the  dead  hour 
of  the  night  disembarked  our  prisoner,  put  him  in  double 
irons,  and  confined  him  in  the  hold  of  the  vessel,  where  a 
number  of  other  prisoners,  arrested  for  their  supposed  con 
nection  with  the  assassination,  had  been  already  some  days 
confined.  The  body  of  Booth  was  placed  on  deck,  in  charge 
of  a  marine  guard.  It  had  been  securely  sewed  up  in  a 
blanket  before  it  left  the  Garrett  farm.  On  the  following 
morning  a  post-mortem  examination  was  held,  in  order  to 
the  proper  identification  of  the  body.  Dr.  May,  a  physician 
of  Washington,  who  had  some  two  years  before  removed  a 
tumor  from  Booth' s  neck,  was  called  in  as  a  witness.  The 
scar  of  this  tumor  was  readily  found  by  Dr.  May,  and  his 
testimony,  with  that  of  six  or  seven  others,  as  to  the  identifi 
cation,  placed  the  question  of  indentity  beyond  all  cavil. 
Afterward  Dr.  Barnes,  the  Surgeon-General  of  the  United 
States  Army,  with  an  assistant,  cut  from  Booth's  neck  a 
section  of  the  spine  through  which  the  ball  passed.  This 
section  is  now  on  exhibition  at  the  Government  Medical 
Museum  at  Washington.  This  was  the  only  mutilation  of 
J.  Wilkes  Booth  that  ever  occurred,  notwithstanding  the 
numerous  reports  that  his  head  was  cut  off  and  sent  to 
Europe  or  Canada.  On  Thursday,  the  27th,  I  was  sent  for 

24 


370  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

by  $ie  Secretary  of  War,  and  directed  to  make  a  disposition 
of  the  body  of  Booth.  In  compliance  with  these  instruc 
tions,  with  the  assistance  of  Lieutenant  L.  B.  Baker,  I  dis 
posed  of  the  body,  as  related  on  another  page,  and  also  the 
circumstances  connected  with  the  trial  of  the  assassins. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

LETTERS   0*  THE   ASSASSINATION. 

Jacob  Thompson — Volunteer  Suggestions  respecting  the  Assassin's  Hiding- Placet 
before  his  Death,  and  the  Disposal  of  his  Remains  afterward — Threats  of  more 
Assassinations — A  Mysterious  Letter — J.  H.  Surratt. 

I  SHALL  now  copy  a  few  of  the  many  letters  from  different 
parts  of  the  North,  called  forth  by  the  exciting  tragedy  at 
our  capital,  the  most  of  which  were  addressed  to  the  Secre 
tary  of  War,  and  by  him  placed  in  my  hands.  Their  chief 
value  and  interest  arises  from  the  expressions  of  feeling  they 
furnish,  and  the  manifold  suggestions  respecting  the  dis 
covery  and  disposal  of  the  homicide. 

The  first  communication  relates  to  Jacob  Thompson,  for 
whose  arrest  subsequently  a  reward  of  $25,000  was  offered. 

HARTFORD,  CONNECTICUT,  April  18,  1865. 

Hon.  E.  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War,  Washington : — 

DEAR  SIR — I  was  yesterday  told  a  story,  by  a  young  man  from  New  York, 
implicating  one  George  Thompson,  a  companion  of  Booth,  and,  I  believe,  an 
actor  in  Laura  Keene's  Theatre,  in  the  assassination  of  the  President  and  Sec 
retary  Seward ;  will  write  further  about  it  if  you  think  advisable.  Hoping 
this  may  be  serviceable  in  discovering  the  guilty  assassin, 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  yours, 

WM.  O. 

Temple  Street 

HARTFORD,  CONNECTICUT,  April  18,  1865. 

W.  O.  SUMNER,  JR.  :— 

States  that  he  has  been  told  a  story  implicating  one  George  Thompson^  • 
companion  of  Booth,  in  the  murder  of  President  Lincoln. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  April  22,  1S66. 

Respeccmiiy  leierred  to  Colonel  L.  C.  Baker,  Agent,  &c.,  for  his  informs 
lion,  action,  and  report. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

H.  S.  BURNETT,  Jadge-j^dvocate. 


372  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

The  indorsement  on  the  back  of  the  next  letter  will 
explain  its  import. 

BCTFALO,  NEW  YORK,  April  18,  1865. 

Hon.  E.  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War,  Washington,  D.  C.  :— 

MY  DEAR  SIR — Business  has  called  me  to  Toronto,  C.  W.,  several  times 
within  the  past  two  months,  and  while  there  I  have  seen  and  heard  some 
things,  knowledge  of  which  may  be  of  service  to  the  Government. 

About  five  weeks  since  I  saw  at  the  Queen's  Hotel,  at  Toronto,  a  letter 
written  by  the  late  John  Y.  Beale  just  previous  to  his  execution,  which,  after 
speaking  of  his  mock  trial,  unjust  sentence,  the  judicial  murder  that  was  to 
be  perpetrated  by  his  execution,  &c.,  called  upon  Jacob  Thompson  to  vindi 
cate  his  character  before  his  countrymen  of  the  South,  and  expressed  his 
belief  that  his  death  would  be  speedily  and  terribly  avenged.  The  letter 
itself  was  addressed  to  Colonel  J.  Thompson,  Confederate  Commissioner  at 
Toronto,  but  the  superscription  upon  the  envelope  (which  was  in  a  different 
handwriting  from  the  body  of  the  letter)  read  simply,  J.  Thompson,  Toronto, 
Canada.  This  circumstance  caused  it  to  be  delivered  to  a  Mr.  Thompson  for 
whom  it  was  not  intended.  I  was  permitted  to  peruse  but  not  to  copy  the 
letter.  I  was  informed  at  that  time  that  the  friends  of  Beale  were  banded 
together  for  the  double  purpose  of  avenging  his  death  and  aiding  the  Rebel 
Government.  I  have  heard  the  same  statement  repeated  many  times  since, 
and  have  frequently  been  told  by  citizens  of  Toronto,  that  some  great  mischief 
was  being  plotted  by  Beale's  friends  and  other  refugees  in  Canada.  More 
than  a  month  General  Dix's  name  was  mentioned  in  my  hearing  in  connection 
with  the  threatened  vengeance.  I  regarded  all  such  stories  as  idle  tales 
unworthy  of  notice,  consequently  I  never  repeated  them.  Last  Friday  even 
ing,  while  sitting  in  the  office  of  the  Queen's  Hotel,  I  overheard  a  conversation 
between  some  persons  sitting  near  me,  which  convinced  me  that  the  plan  to 
assassinate  the  President  was  known  to  some  at  least  of  the  refugees  in  Canada. 
The  party  was  mourning  over  the  late  rebel  reverses  ;  commenting  also  upon 
*he  execution  of  Beale,  the  extradition  of  Burley,  the  discharge  of  the  raiders, 
&c. ;  after  which  they  endeavored  to  cheer  themselves  after  this  fashion: 
"  We'll  make  the  damned  Yankees  howl  yet."  "  I'll  wager,  boys,  that  we'll 
get  better  news  in  forty-eight  hours."  "  I  reckon,  by  God,  that  Jeff.  Davis 
will  live  as  long  as  Abe  Lincoln."  "  Old  Abe  won't  hang  Davis."  u  We'll  have 
something  from  Washington  that  will  make  people  stare."  "  Won't  the  damned 
Yankees  curse  us  more  than  ever."  I  do  not  pretend  to  give  the  exact  lan 
guage  of  any  of  the  parties,  but  expressions  like  those  above  quoted  were  of 
frequent  occurrence  during  the  conversation.  I  took  very  little  notice  of  the 
party.  Their  words  at  the  time  appeared  to  me  to  be  simply  profane  and 
vulgar,  implying  idle  threats  which  could  never  be  executed.  Some  of  the 
party  had  evidently  been  drinking  freely.  They  were  all  strangers  to  me. 
The  next  morning  (Saturday,  April  15),  when  I  received  the  news  of  the 
assassination,  I  could  not  help  feeling  that  the  party  I  had  heaid  the  night 
before  were  implicated  in  the  act.  I  met  two  of  them  in  company  with  Ben 
Young,  and  one  or  two  others  of  the  St.  Alban's  raiders,  on  Saturday,  in  the 


COMMUNICATIONS.  373 

bar-room  of  the  Queen's.  One  remarked,  u  Good  news  for  as  this  morning," 
and  another,  uDamn  well  done,  but  not  quite  enough  of  it."  And  as  they 
raised  their  glasses,  one  of  them  said,  "Here's  to  Andy  Johnson's  turn  next," 
which  was  replied  to,  "  Yes,  damn  his  soul."  On  relating  this  circumstance 
to  Hon.  E.  G.  Spaulding  and  others,  they  were  of  opinion  that  I  should  com 
municate  them  to  your  Department.  For  my  own  part,  I  beg  to  refer  to  Hon. 
Tra  Harris,  of  the  Senate,  and  Hon.  John  A.  Griswold,  of  the  House. 

I  am,  my  dear  Sir,  very  truly  yours,  G.  S.  0. 

Mr.  C.  is  a  respectable  lawyer  in  this  city,  and  his  statements  are  entitled 
to  credit. 

E.  G.  G., 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
From  G.  S.  0. 

April  18, 1865. 

To  Secretary  of  War  :— 

States  that  while  at  Toronto,  C.  W.,  five  weeks  ago,  he  saw  a  letter 
written  by  John  Y.  Beale  to  Colonel  Jacob  Thompson,  Confederate  Commis 
sioner  at  Toronto,  expressing,  among  other  things,  his  belief  that  his  death 
would  be  speedily  and  terribly  revenged.  Was  informed  that  the  friends  of 
Beale  were  banded  to  avenge  his  death.  Respectfully  referred  to  Colonel 
Baker  for  his  information. 

H.  S.  BURNETT, 

Judge- Advocate,  &c. 

I  received  several  missives  like  the  following  : — 

BLODGKT  MILLS,  N.  Y.,  April  19, 18«, 
Colonel  L.  C.  BAKER,  Agent  of  War  Department  at  Washington : — 

DEAR  SIR — I  have  been  engaged  with  different  traveling  companies  for 
some  eight  or  ten  years.  I  know  the  habits  of  them  pretty  well.  I  used  to 
be  acquainted  with  J.  Wilkes  Booth.  I  don't  think  there  is  a  theatre  or  circus 
company  of  any  note  but  what  I  am  more  or  less  acquainted  with.  I  am  so 
well  acquainted  with  that  class  of  people  that  I  think  I  could  be  of  some  use 
in  tracking  him  out.  If  I  had  the  means  I  should  have  been  after  him  before 
now.  I  am  at  your  service  if  you  think  I  can  be  of  any  use  to  you. 
From  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  D.  S. 

P.  S. — I  could  find  out  things  from  that  class  of  people  that  those  unac 
quainted  with  them  could  not  so  readily. 

S.  D.  S. 

Astrologists  and  spiritualists  offered  the  Government  the 
benefit  of  their  prophetic  gifts  : — 

LATAYMTB,  Inc.,  April  28, I860. 

Mr.  E.  M.  S.  :— 

DEAR  SIR — I  wish  to  say  a  few  words  to  you  in  regard  to  the  whereabouts 
of  Booth,  who  now  lays  concealed  in  a  house  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  new 


374  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

the  town  of  Middleburg,  a  little  northeast  of  the  Town  House,  one  story, 
cottage  style,  roof  very  steep,  back  of  the  house  high  hills,  in  front  a  garden 
laid  out  into  squares.  The  man  of  the  house  is  tall  and  straight,  of  sandy 
complexion  and  sore  eyes.  If  I  had  means  to  go  to  the  south  part  of  the 
State  to  consult  with  a  friend  of  mine,  I  think  that  we  could  draw  a  diagram 
of  the  exact  location  arid  send  to  you,  but  I  am  poor.  I  have  had  tMe'Ves 
caught  through  my  way  of  telling  things.  I  have  been  put  in  prison  for 
telling  the  same,  and  life  threatened  also.  If  you  should  think  this  of  any 
importance,  please  answer.  If  I  can  get  means  to  go  and  see  my  friend,  w 
will  send  you  a  correct  diagram  of  the  house  and  place  of  concealment.  It 
won't  cost  much  to  try.  Sir,  please  not  mention  this  to  no  one  but  yo^r 
friends.  You  may  not  have  any  faith  in  this,  but  try. 

Yours  truly,  H.  F. 

Threats  of  additional  assassination  followed  the  murder 
of  Mr.  Lincoln  : — 

TANNER,  CANADA,  April  20,  I860. 

To  ANDREW  JOHNSON,  President  of  United  States,  or  other  authority : — 

With  certainty  I  state  to  you  that  John  A.  Payne  and  thirteen  others  are 
sworn  to  murder  Andrew  Johnson,  E.  M.  Stanton,  and  L.  S.  Fisher,  within 
thirty  days  from  23d  April,  1865.  The  arrangements  are  all  made  and  in 
progress  of  execution.  I  do  not  know  where  John  A.  Payne  is  now ;  he  was 
at  Montreal  and  Tanner,  Canada,  when  this  plot  was  projected.  His  brother 
(name  I  do  not  recollect)  is  also  implicated.  Seven  of  the  plotters  are  at 
Washington,  four  at  Bedford,  Bedford  Co.,  Penn.,  and  the  thirteenth  is  with 
Payne.  These  are  plain  facts.  Do  not  reveal  this,  but  arrest  John  A.  Payne 
and  his  brother.  Yours  truly, 

JOHN  P.  H.  HALL, 

Of  Tanner,  Canadt 
I  send  this  to  Detroit  to  avoid  suspicion. 

PHILADELPHIA,  April  20,  1866, 

To  Hon.  W.  H.  SEWAED  :— 

You  may  survive  the  fatal  blow  which  I  aimed  at  your  throat,  but  know, 
thou  most  cruel,  cunning,  and  remorseless  man,  that  sooner  or  later  you  will 
fall  by  the  very  hand  which  assaulted  you  last  Friday  night,  and  now  pens 
these  calm,  solemn  words. 

MOORHEAD  CITY,  NORTH  CAROLINA,  May  5,  1865. 

Hon.  WM.  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State  :— 

SIR — Inclosed  you  will  find  a  letter  which  I  found  floating  in  the  river  by 
the  new  Government  wharf,  at  this  place,  on  the  evening  of  the  2d  instant. 
It  was  not  until  late  last  night  that  I  succeeded  in  learning  its  purport,  it 
being  in  cipher.  Having  learned  its  nature,  I  lose  no  time  in  transmitting  it 
to  you,  as  one  concerned.  I  send  also  a  copy  of  the  letter  as  I  translate  it. 
It  is  easy  to  perceive  that  the  first  word  is  Washington ;  the  second,  April ; 
the  fourth,  Dear;  and  the  fifth,  John.  Having  ascertained  that  much,  I  had 


COMMUNICATIONS.  375 

out  little  difficulty  in  making  out  the  remainder.  The  letter,  evidently,  had 
not  been  opened  when  thrown  in  the  river.  I  think  the  fiend  was  here  await 
ing  the  arrival  of  General  Sherman,  and,  on  learning  the  General  had  gone  to 
"Wilmington,  and  feeling  himself  pressed  by  the  detectives,  threw  it  overboard. 

Respectfully  yours, 

CHAS.  DENET. 

P.  S. — If  the  letter  should  lead  to  any  thing  of  importance,  so  that  it 
would  be  necessary  that  I  should  be  seen,  I  can  be  found  at  126  South  H 
Street,  between  6th  and  4|.  I  am  at  present  engaged  in  the  Construction 
Corps,  Railroad  Department,  at  this  place.  Will  be  in  Washington  in  a  few 
days. 

CHAS.  DENET. 

[COPY.] 
Translation  of  the  Cipher  Letter. 

WASHINGTON,  April  15,  1865. 

DEAR  JOHN— -I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  Pet.  has  done  his  work  welL 
He  is  safe  and  Old  Abe  is  in  hell.  Now,  sir,  all  eyes  are  on  you — you  must 
bring  Sherman.  Grant  is  in  the  hands  of  Old  Gray  ere  this.  Red  Shoes 
showed  lack  of  nerve  in  Seward's  case,  but  fell  back  in  good  order.  Johnson 
must  come,  Old  Crook  has  him  in  charge.  Mind  well  that  brother's  oath  and 
you  will  have  no  difficulty ;  all  will  be  safe,  and  enjoy  the  fruit  of  our  labors. 
We  had  a  large  meeting  last  night — all  were  bent  on  carrying  out  the  pro 
gramme  to  the  letter.  The  rails  are  laid  for  safe  exit.  Old — always  behind- 
lost  the  pass  at  City  Point.  Now,  I  say  again,  the  lives  of  our  brave  officers, 
and  the  life  of  the  South,  depend  upon  the  carrying  this  programme  into 
effect.  No.  2  will  give  you  this.  It  is  ordered  no  more  letters  shall  be  sent 
by  mail.  When  you  write,  sign  no  real  name,  and  send  by  some  of  our 
friends  who  are  coming  home.  We  want  you  to  write  us  how  the  news  was 
received  there.  We  received  great  encouragement  from  all  quarters.  I  hope 
there  will  be  no  getting  weak  in  the  knees.  I  was  in  Baltimore  yesterday. 
Pet.  has  not  got  there  yet.  Your  folks  are  well,  and  have  heard  from  you. 
Don't  lose  your  nerve. 

O.  B.  No.  FIVE. 

A  few  brief  communications  are  taken  at  random,  which 
need  no  words  of  introduction,  but  will  be  readily  under 
stood  and  appreciated. 

McIlKNET    HOUSE,    MEADVIL06,    PENNSYLVANIA,   April   25,    18«5. 

Hon.  E.  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War,  Washington,  D.  C. : — 

SIR — Recent  dispatches,  referring  to  a  former  and  futile  attempt  upon  the 
life  of  the  late  Abraham  Lincoln,  by  poison,  have  induced  me  to  write  you 
regarding  a  circumstance  occurring  at  this  hotel,  where  I  have  been  cashier 
for  a  year  and  a  half.  Some  time  ago  the  following  words  were  observed  to 
have  been  scratched  upon  a  pane  of  glass  in  room  No.  22  of  this  house,  en- 


376  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

dently  done  with  a  diamond :  "  Abe  Lincoln  departed  this  life  August  18, 
1864,  by  the  effects  of  poison."  I  give  this  just  as  it  appears  upon  the  glass. 
In  view  of  recent  events,  it  was  deemed  best  to  take  the  pane  of  glass  out  and 
preserve  it,  and  we  have  it  safe.  As  to  the  date  of  the  writing,  we  cannot 
determine.  It  was  noticed  some  months  ago  by  the  housekeeper,  but  was  not 
thought  particularly  of  until  after  the  assassination,  being  considered  a  freak 
of  some  individual  who  was  probably  partially  intoxicated.  My  theory  now 
is,  that  the  words  were  written  in  prophecy  or  bravado  by  some  villain  who 
was  in  the  plot,  and  that  they  were  written  before  the  date  mentioned,  August 
13th.  As  to  who  was  the  writer,  we  can,  of  course,  give  no  definite  informa 
tion.  J.  Wilkes  Booth  was  here  several  times  during  last  summer  and  fall,  on 
his  way  to  and  from  the  oil  regions.  He  was  here  upon  the  10th,  and  again 
upon  the  -29th  of  June,  1864,  but  does  not  appear  to  have  been  assigned  to 
that  room,  still  he  may  have  been  in  it  in  company  with  others  who  did 
occupy  it.  Upon  the  10th  the  room  was  assigned  to  W.  H.  Crowell  and  J.  C. 
Ford,  of  Irvine,  Pennsylvania;  and  upon  the  29th,  to  R.  E.  Glass  and  J.  W. 
King,  of  New  York.  Should  you  consider  the  matter  of  sufficient  importance 
to  desire  it,  I  will  give  you  a  list  of  the  persons  occupying  the  room  in  ques 
tion  for  a  long  time  preceding  the  above  date,  as  you  may  request. 

With  a  hearty  desire  to  do  all  in  my  power  to  bring  to  light  and  to  pun 
ishment  the  author  of  this  terrible  crime, 

I  remain,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

S.  D.  PAGE. 

BOSTON,  April  18,  1865. 

DEAR  SIR — As  I  am  willing  to  do  all  in  my  power  to  aid  in  the  arrest  of 
the  assassin  Booth,  perhaps  the  following  may  be  of  service  to  you,  as  I  have 
considerable  confidence  in  my  information,  which  I  will  let  you  know  about 
at  some  future  time.  Go  through  Mass.  Avenue  to  8th  Street  near  the 
market,  to  house  No.  61,  in  the  rear.  Mrs.  Caroline  or  Angeliue  Wright  lives 
or  stays  there,  and  Booth  is  secreted  there.  He  goes  out  in  the  disguise  of  a 
negro,  and  also  did  before  the  assassination.  He  hides  up  stairs  in  a  concealed 
closet,  which  would  be  difficult  to  find,  unless  carefully  looked  after,  as  there 
is  a  slide  or  panel.  He  jumped  off  his  horse  after  the  crime  was  committed, 
another  man  taking  his  place,  to  avoid  suspicion.  The  house  may  be  No.  84, 
and  may  possibly  be  some  other  avenue,  but  on  8th  street,  or  near  the  corner. 
I  am  just  and  honest  about  this  matter,  but  dare  not  give  my  name  for  fear  I 
may  be  arrested;  but  should  this  give  any  information  to  you  I  shall  proba 
bly  know  it. 

Yours,  H . 

ST.  CLAIKBVILLE,  OHIO,  April  26,  1865. 

To  Hon.  E.  M.  STANTON:— 

Believing  in  the  efficacy  of  prayer,  and  earnestly  desiring  that  the  assassin 
of  our  beloved  President  be  brought  to  justice,  I  clearly  dreamed  that  the 
assassin  was  in  a  man's  house  by  the  name  of  Cromwell,  at  Reading,  Pennsyl 
vania.  I  am  no  believer  in  Spiritualism  or  fanaticism  of  any  kind.  I  am  a 


COMMUNICATIONS.  377 

matter- of- fart  woman,  but  for  the  intelligence  I  prayed  fervently;  take  it  for 
what  it  is  worth,  but  I  desire  that  it  never  be  made  public.     I  feel  it  to  be  * 
duty  to  give  my  name,  but  a  delicacy  prevents  me  from  so  doing. 
Yours  truly, 

ST.  CLAIRSVILLE,  BELMONT  Co.,  OHIO. 

BUFFALO,  April  25,  186&. 

Hon.  Secretary  of  War:  — 

SIR — I  crave  your  pardon  for  troubling  you  again  with  what  some  folks 
call  foolishness,  and  perhaps  you  have  no  faith  in.  I  have  called  several 
times  on  the  person  I  mentioned  to  you  since  I  wrote  you;  she  still  insists 
that  the  assassin  is  hid  in  the  same  place  where  he  first  went,  and  it  is  not 
thr*e  miles  from  the  theater;  she  thinks  he  is  clothed  in  female  attire,  and  is 
making  arrangements  to  go  off  on  a  large  boat.  I  think  it  would  be  well  to 
examine  every  female,  young  or  old,  that  wants  a  pass  to  leave  the  city,  and 
especially  if  their  destination  is  Europe.  You  are  aware,  I  presume,  that  a 
person  of  his  profession  can  adapt  themselves  to  any  disguise.  Do  not  let 
your  disbelief  in  fortune-telling  prevent  you  from  using  this  as  a  means  of 
information  to  bring  the  assassin  to  justice,  for  I  have  faith  to  believe  he  is 
concealed  in  a  house  of  that  description.  You  will  forgive  me  for  troubling 
you  when  you  know  how  much  we  loved  our  late  President. 

Your  humble  servant, 

MKROT. 

88  Tenth  Street 

The  indignation  of  all  classes  of  loyal  people,  which  will 
deepen  in  its  tone  of  condemnation  and  scorn  around  the 
nameless,  unknown  grave  of  the  assassin,  with  the  years  of 
all  coming  time,  is  illustrated  in  the  curious  and  varied  cor 
respondence  copied  below.  Patriotism  and  religion  entered 
alike  into  the  absorbing  interest  of  the  exciting  national  ex 
perience  during  the  spring  of  1865. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Chronicle  :— 

As  any  thing  pertaining  to  Booth  since  his  infamous  deed  (the  murder  of 
our  noble,  beloved  President,  Abraham  Lincoln,  who  is  lamented  by  all,  and 
above  all  by  the  soldiers,  as  a  kind,  generous  Father  departed)  possesses  an 
interest  to  the  great  reading  public,  I,  a  soldier,  relate  the  following  incident, 
as  showing  how  persistent  and  unchangeable  the  wretch  has  been  in  his 
treason  since  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
war,  whan  black-browed  and  defiant  treason  stretched  out  'ts  impious  hand, 
red  with  murder,  to  tear  in  pieces  the  Constitution,  to  which  the  millions  of 
the  North  chmg,  as  to  their  sheet-anchor  of  hope,  J.  Wilkes  Booth  was  play 
ing  an  engagement  at  the  little  Gayety  Theatre,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  which  city, 
when  startled  from  its  propriety  by  the  news  of  the  unholy  attack  on  Sumter, 
attested  in  action,  more  eloquent  than  words,  its  love  for  the  old  flag,  by 
displaying  it  from  every  roof  and  window.  Booth  at  that  time  openly  and 


378  UNITED   STATES   SECRET  SERVICE. 

boldly  avowed  his  admiration  for  the  rebels  and  their  deeds,  which  he  charac 
terized  as  the  most  heroic  of  modern  times,  and  boasted  loudly  that  the 
Southern  leaders  knew  how  to  defend  their  rights,  and  would  not  submit  to 
oppression. 

So  vehement  and  incautious  was  he  in  his  expressions  that  the  people  be 
came  incensed,  and,  threatening  him  with  popular  violence,  compelled  hi« 
hasty  departure  from  the  city  he  had  too  long  polluted  with  his  presence. 
Before  leaving,  however,  he  attempted  the  life  of  a  lady  who,  for  the  one  or 
two  past  seasons,  has  been  an  established  favorite  at  Mrs.  John  Wood's 
Olympic  Theatre,  New  York  City,  with  whom  he  (Booth)  had  a  liaison,  aa 
was  thought  by  many,  more  intimate  than  honorable ;  and  conceiving,  as  I 
suppose,  that  she,  with  a  profusion  truly  regal,  showered  her  charms  and 
blandishments  on  other  suitors,  he,  in  a  fit  of  insane  jealousy,  entered  her 
room  at  deep  midnight  and  struck  her  with  a  dagger  in  the  side.  She,  who 
could  find  no  pleasure  in  becoming  a  martyr,  merely  for  fun,  turned  upon  him 
with  the  fury  of  a  tigress,  and  in  turn  wounded  him.  Would  to  God  that  the 
dagger  of  the  actress,  to  quote  Carlyle,  "had  intervened  fatally,'1  and  saved 
the  wretch  from  the  black,  gigantic  crime  that  was  impending  over  his  guilty 
head,  and  the  nation  from  the  universal  grief  which  now  shrouds  it  with  the 
funereal  gloom  of  the  grave,  and  which  has  excited  among  the  good  Blue 
Coats  of  the  army  an  indignant,  piercing  anguish,  that  goes  far  beyond  all 
power  of  description  in  words. 

A.  D.  DOTY, 
Carver  U.  S.  General  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

STATE  OF  MARYLAND,  WASHINGTON  COUNTY,  to  wit: 

On  this  2d  day  of  March,  1865,  before  me,  the  subscriber,  one  of  the  Justices 
of  the  Peace  of  the  State  of  Maryland  in  and  for  Washington  County,  person 
ally  appeared  G.  Y.,  and  after  being  duly  sworn  according  to  law,  doth  depose 
and  say,  that  he  was  in  the  clothing-store  of  John  D.  Reamer  about  three 
weeks  since,  and  he  heard  Mr.  John  D.  Reamer,  in  conversation  with  William 
Gabriel,  say  that  there  was  in  Canada  from  England  fifty  thousand  men  and 
that  there  would  be  in  a  short  time  fifty  thousand  more.  He  was  then  asked 
by  Gabriel  what  that  meant,  and  in  answer  he  said  he  did  not  know,  but  we 
would  find  it  out  in  a  short  time,  and  said  that  there  was  one  hundred  thou 
sand  dollars  made  up  now  for  a  man  to  kill  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  that  the 
man  wanted  the  one-half  in  hand  and  the  balance  when  the  deed  was  done. 
He  was  asked  the  question  by  Gabriel  who  the  man  was  that  was  to  do  the 
act,  and  was  answered  by  Reamer  that  that  was  not  yet  known,  and  by  the 
1st  day  of  April  next  we  would  have  Lincoln  out  of  his  seat.  And  further 
this  deponent  eaith  not.  Sworn  before 

J.  W.  COOK,  J.  P. 

I  hereby  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  copy  of  the  original. 

J.  W.  COOK,  J.  P. 

Eon.  E.  M.  STANTON : — 

DEAR  SIR — Thinking  that  any  information  tending  to  bring  the  actors  and 
accomplices  connected  with  the  late  lamentable  occurrences  in  Washington 


COMMUNICATIONS.  379 

to  the  bar  of  justice  would  be  acceptable  to  your  Government,  I  am  induced 
to  give  the  following  particulars  relative  to  a  young  man  wko  came  into  our 
village  some  three  days  subsequent  to  the  assassination  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and 
whom  I  am  inclined  to  believe  is  the  Mr.  Surratt  spoken  of  in  your  paper  as 
having  escaped  to  this  province.  He  is  a  young  man  of  twenty-four  or  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  five  feet  ten  inches,  perhaps  six  feet  in  height,  black  hair, 
parted  behind,  rather  inclined  to  curl,  lower  jaw  very  large  and  deep,  body 
small,  legs  disproportionately  lengthy,  figure  good,  bearing  soldierly.  His 
eyes  are  rather  small  and  black.  He  had  a  moustache  of  a  light  brown  when 
he  came  here,  but  dyed  black  since ;  no  whiskers.  His  complexion  is  very 
fine.  He  is  stopping  with  a  Dr.  Merritt,  an  escaped  secessionist,  who  came 
here  in  December  last,  and  who  has  always,  when  speaking  of  your  Govern 
ment  and  late  Chief  Magistrate,  expressed  himself  in  terms  of  unrelenting 
bitterness  and  hostility.  It  is  currently  reported  in  our  village  that,  when  the 
news  of  the  assassination  of  Mr.  Lincoln  came  in,  he  fairly  danced  with  joy 
upon  the  street.  From  what  I  have  seen  of  the  man,  I  should  be  quite  pre 
pared  to  believe  him  capable  of  offering  his  house  as  a  rendezvous  for  such 
creatures  as  the  St.  Alban's  raiders  (of  whose  doings  he  seems  to  have  had 
some  foreknowledge)  and  the  villains  who  have  lately  thrown  your  country 
into  mourning.  I  send  inclosed  an  advertisement  published  by  Dr.  Merritt 
upon  his  arrival  here,  in  which  you  will  perceive  he  professes  to  have  been 
on  somewhat  intimate  terms  with  your  present  Chief  Magistrate,  President 
Johnson. 

'u  J.  B.  MERRITT,  M.  D.,  would  very  respectfully  notify  the  citizens  of  Ayr 
and  surrounding  country,  that  he  has  taken  the  good-will  and  practice  of  the 
late  David  Caw,  M.  D.,  and  William  Caw,  and  will  be  found  at  the  office  lately 
occupied  by  them  in  Ayr,  on  and  after  the  1st  of  December. 

"  With  seventeen  years'  experience  in  the  treatment  of  diseases,  he  feels 
justified  in  claiming  a  share  of  the  public  patronage. 

"AYE,  November  17,  1864." 

"PERSONAL. — We  direct  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  the  cards  of  Drs. 
William  Caw,  and  J.  B.  Merritt.  in  another  part  of  this  issue,  the  former 
being  about  to  retire  in  favor  of  the  latter.  Mr.  Merritt  comes  to  Ayr  with 
the  best  of  recommendations  both  as  a  medical  practitioner  and  a  gentleman. 
We  have  copies  in  our  possession  of  quite  a  number  of  very  flattering  testimo 
nials  from  some  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  where  Mr.  M. 
formerly  practiced.  They  include  the  names  of  Thomas  A.  R.  Nelson,  M.  C., 
John  Netherland,  ex-Gov.,  W.  G.  Brownlow,  Editor  '  Knoxville  Whig,'  and 
one  from  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Tennessee,  which  we  give  in  full: — 

[Copy.] 

STATB  OF  TENNESSEE,  EXECUTIVE  CHAMBER,  \ 
NASHVILLE,  AuguHt  10,  1864.  f 

I  have  been  intimately  acquainted  with  Dr.  J.  B.  Merritt  for  a  long  time. 
he  having  been  my  family  physician  for  a  number  of  years.  It  affords  me 
great  pleasure  to  commend  him  as  a  first-class  physician,  and  as  a  gentleman 
entitled  to  every  degree  of  public  confidence. 

(Signed)  ANDREW  JOHNSON,  Governor. 


380  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE; 

Before  taking  the  step  I  have  done  by  writing  the  above,  I  consulted  a 
most  intelligent  and  efficient  magistrate,  a  resident  of  this  place,  upon  the 
matter,  and  he  unhesitatingly  indorsed  the  propriety  of  my  communicating 
with  you,  and,  like  me,  would  be  only  too  happy  in  being  in  any  degree 
instrumental  in  bringing  any  of  those  villains,  whether  raiders  or  assassins,  to 
the  bar  of  justice. 

By  communicating  with  Robert  Wyllie,  Esq.,  J.  P.,  or  with  me,  if  it  be 
thought  advisable,  any  information  that  you  may  desire  in  addition  to  the 
above,  if  possible  to  give  it,  will  be  most  cheerfully  forwarded  to  you. 

Dr.  T.  J.  Reid,  one  of  your  officers,  at  present  on  duty  in  the  Findlay 
Hospital,  Washington,  can  give  you  all  needed  information  as  to  our  village, 
its  whereabouts,  Robert  Wyllie,  Esq.,  and  your  correspondent. 

Sincerely  regretting  that  conduct  so  barbarous  as  the  assassination  of 
your  departed  President  and  the  attempted  assassination  of  your  Secretary  of 
State  should  have  been  witnessed  in  your  midst  to  call  for  a  communication 
of  this  character, 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obt., 

G.  W.  BINGHAM,  M.  D. 

AYR,  COUNTY  WATERLOO,  CANADA  WEST,  | 
April  25,  1865.  f 

YORK,  PA.,  May  9,  1864 

Col.  L.  C.  BAKER:— 

SIR — I  had  the  honor  to  suggest  to  you,  at  one  time,  that  I  thought  Booth 
was  secreted  in  underground  apartments  in  the  city,  and  that  he  might  attempt 
to  escape  in  the  disguise  of  a  female.  Subsequent  developments  demonstrated 
that  I  was  right  in  regard  to  the  underground  apartment,  but  wrong  as  to 
Booth.  It  was  another  one  of  the  conspirators  that  was  secreted  there  at  the 
time.  As  to  the  disguise,  I  suppose,  that  was  subsequently  attempted — not 
by  Booth,  of  course,  but  by  another. 

There  is  a  point,  I  think,  connected  with  the  plot,  whicl ,  if  the  Judge- 
Advocate  could  draw  out  of  any  of  the  prisoners  or  witnesses  would  make  a 
stronger  case,  viz.,  the  plan  and  canvass  of  the  practicability  r  escaping  from 
the  city  in  a  balloon,  which  I  think  they  had  at  one  time. 

I  submit  to  your  consideration  the  following  opinions  jr  points :  That 
quite  a  number  of  persons,  cognizant  of  and  connected  wit  .  the  conspiracy, 
are  still  at  large ;  that  they  have  a  headquarters  still,  wher  •  they  meet,  and 
plan,  and  advise ;  that  said  headquarters  are  probably  in  soue  back  office  or 
rooms  in  the  city,  unknown  to  the  authorities;  and  that  their  chief  conspira 
tor,  plotter,  adviser,  and  arch-devil,  at  present,  is  a  sly,  cunning,  quiet,  long 
headed  shoemaker  or  cobbler,  who  works  upon  his  benci ,  and  plots  crime 
unsuspected. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  MATTOCKS. 

CITY  OF  NEW  1  ORK,  April  28,  18G&. 

Bon.  E.  M.  STANTON: — 

SIR — The  body  of  the  assassin  Booth  should  have  no  place  on  American 
*oil.  What  State,  county,  or  town,  would  consent  to  give  him  a  "burying- 


COMMUNICATIONS.  331 

place?      None  but  his  sympathizers,   and  they  should   not   be   allowed   to 
have  it. 

I  would  suggest  that  an  inquest  in  full  be  had,  and  a  full  and  complete 
perpetual  history  be  made  of  all  the  circumstances,  with  the  verdict  of  univer- 
lal  condemnation  be  pronounced  upon  him,  a  copy  of  which  to  be  put  in  a 
bottle,  and,  with  Booth,  be  sunk  in  the  ocean,  in  the  deppest  part  thereof  to 
be  food  for  reptiles,  and  to  inform  future  posterity  of  his  infamy. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

LEANDKB  Fox. 

128  HUDSON  STREET. 

To  Hon.  Mr.  STANTON  : — 

I  am  glad  to  read  this  morning  that  the  Booths  are  being  searched  and 
arrested,  but  oh,  be  vigilant ;  let  not  the  cellar  nor  the  housetop  escape  notice, 
let  not  the  darkey  that  washes  dishes  nor  old  lady  who  knits  in  her  easy  chair 
fail  to  be  looked  in  the  face,  for  with  them  it  is  nothing  but  play  to  perform 
what  has  so  long  been  rehearsed.  Perhaps  he  is  in  bed,  with  the  cap  and 
nightgown  of  a  female,  feigning  sickness.  Let  all  things  be  done. 

Arrest  Edwin  Booth  also;  it  will  do  no  harm,  for  I  think  he  and  hia 
mother  are  very  near  to  the  murderer.  O  please,  for  the  sake  of  the  honor 
and  safety  of  people  in  genera!,  do  pass  a  law  punishable  with  death  for  either 
sex  to  wear  the  other's  apparel.  Without  this  all  villains  will  run  rampant 
through  this  fair  land,  and  none  will  be  safe.  The  utmost  severity  is  needed 
in  this  trying  hour,  and  if  it  is  not  done,  others  more  inferior  will  trample  all 
law  under  foot. 

When  going  to  the  funeral  of  our  loved  President,  I  was  asked  by  my 
neighbor  if  I  was  going  to  a  circus. 

May  God  grant  your  search  may  not  be  in  vain,  for  we  are  filled  with  those 
that  rejoice  in  our  midst,  and  none  more  so  than  those  who  have  grown  rich 

in  this  bloody  war. 

In  haste, 

JUSTICE. 

NEW  YOBK,  April  27,  1865. 

CLEVELAND,  OHIO,  April  27,  1865. 

The  Hon.  the  Secretary  of  War,  Washington  : — 

SIR — Allow  me  to  suggest  that  the  skeleton  of  the  assassin  Booth  be  pre 
served  and  placed  in  appropriate  receptacle,  in  order  the  more  fully  to  per 
petuate  his  infamy  and  be  "  a  terror  to  evil  doers." 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  with  the  utmost  respect, 

J.  B.  GRIBBLE. 

PHILADELPHIA,  April  27, 1S65. 

To  Secretary  STANTON  : — 

RESPECTED  SIR — Has  the  theater  been  examined  critically  by  an  architect 
or  a  practical  builder.  They  could  best  detect  any  hiding-place  formed  by 
double  floors,  angular  ceilings  or  roofs,  partitions,  or  the  straightening  of 
crooked  walls;  also  private  communications  with  adjoining  houses. 

The  hired  lu  rse,  spurs,  and  rider  may  have  been  to  blind,     if  newspapers* 


382  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

contained  the  likeness  and  description  of  the  murderer,  the  colored  man  Soutl 
as  well  as  the  whole  North  might  be  detectives.  May  God  give  you  success, 
With  great  respect, 

I  remain  yours, 

R.  T.  K. 

N.  B. — There  is  scarcely  a  house  in  this  city  but  is  so  built  that  five  or  ten 
men  could  not  be  concealed  in  it.  None  but  a  builder  perhaps  could  detect 
the  place.  If  it  was  thought  proper  to  examine,  I  would  suggest  that  a  small 
dog  should  be  with  them. 

An  Englishman  in  Montreal,  who,  previous  to  the  mur 
der  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  had  sympathized  strongly  with  the  South, 
and  associated  with  their  agents  in  Canada,  and  has  been 
fully  posted  in  their  movements,  said  that  the  assassination 
was  too  much  for  him,  and  stated  that  he  knew  that  during 
the  20th  of  April  the  Southern  agents  heard  from  the  party 
that  murdered  the  President,  and  they  expected  him  to 
arrive  in  Montreal  within  forty -eight  hours — not  sure  that  it 
was  Booth,  but  one  closely  connected  with  assassination,  if 
not  the  principal — that  he  is  sure  he  will  have  him  in  thirty 
minutes  after  arrival — that  he  will  probably  arrive  ma  Troy 
and  Burlington,  or  W.  R.  Junction,  but  most  likely  by 
Ohio  Central. 

This  information  was  given  by  said  Englishman  to  Alder 
man  Lyman  of  this  city  (Montreal),  by  Lyman  to  Mr. 
Cheney,  an  American,  brother  of  the  Expressman,  Cheney  & 
Co. ;  and  Cheney  came  to  St.  Alban'  s  and  gave  it  to  Governor 
Smith. 

Honorable  EDWIN  M.  STANTON  : — 

HONORED  AND  DEAR  SIR — In  the  disposal  of  the  remains  of  the  assassin 
of  President  Lincoln,  I  would  suggest  the  following :  Let  his  body  be  inclosed 
in  a  sack  of  shoddy,  and  carried  out  to  sea,  beyond  soundings,  thrown  over 
board,  there  tc  remain  to  death  and  hell  give  up  their  dead. 
Very  respectfully  yours, 

JOHN  MoLAUGHiJN. 

FRANKLIN  ROAD,  PHILADELPHIA, 

April  29,  1865. 

A  few  days  after  the  assassination,  the  subjoined  mys 
terious  letter  was  picked  up  in  Ford's  Theatre,  which  as  a 
relic  of  the  times  is  put  on  record,  with  another  anonymous 
epistle  of  different  tone,  which  fell  into  my  hands  : 


K.  B.  G."—  THE  HANDKERCHIEF.  383 


PHILADELPHIA,  Thursday  J 

DEAR  SIB  —  You  are  hereby  notified  that  your  presence  in  Philadelphia  is 
obnoxious  to  the  "Knights  of  the  Blue  Gauntlet,"  and  that  at  a  general  con 
vocation  held  this  night,  beneath  the  folds  of  the  "Starry  Banner,"  it  was 
determined  to  notify  you  of  tli€«  fact,  and  to  give  you  ten  days  from  date  to 
place  yourself  without  the  pale  of  our  jurisdiction.  Beware,  the  Lapwing  is 
on  your  track  —  the  Moccasin  lies  hungry  in  your  path  —  the  true  "  Knights  of 
the  Blue  Gauntlet  "  are  not  triflers.  ****** 

To  L.  GARLAND,  Actor,  &c.,  814  Market  street. 

Oh  !  What  a  joke. 

Secesh  &  Co.  have  treated  your  honorable  body  with  one  of  their  latest 
Lincoln  jokes.  Wilkes  Booth  &  Co.  are  under  a  thousand  obligations  for  the 
pass  you  have,  in  your  hour  of  great  gratification,  granted  an  intimate  friend 
of  his.  Your  military  as  well  as  detective  force  is  not  worth  powder  and 
lead  to  kill  them.  We  thank  you,  honorable  Sirs,  with  sincerity,  for  youi 
official  stupidity,  and  shall,  through  a  different  channel,  enable  you  to  patron 
ize  the  vendors  of  crape  in  a  wholesome  way.  Know  then,  all  the  rewards 
you  may  hereafter  offer  is  of  no  avail,  and  further,  that  we  will  have  the 
gratification  to  publish  our  friends  safely  at  your  expense.  Oh!  what  an 
immense  joke.  How  are  you,  base,  foul  Yankee  trash.  Signed  for  over 
ten  thousand  sworn  and  tried  friends  in  the  District  of  Columbia.  Think  of 
that,  base  tyrants,  and  tremble. 

*  A  WASHINGTONIAN. 

The  papers  transmitted  here  were  forwarded  to  me,  with 
the  handkerchief  referred  to  in  them,  and  have  at  least  a 
single  point  of  special  interest.  They  show  how  near  the  son 
of  the  female  assassin,  himself  deserving  the  halter,  came 
to  sharing  this  fate  with  his  mother.  The  statements  also 
underrate  the  instinctive  vigilance  of  the  quickened  thought 
of  the  people,  making  otherwise  ordinary  events  significant, 
and  often  detective,  when  a  great  crime  has  been  committed. 

MONTREAL,  April  27,  1865. 

Colonel  L.  C.  BAKER:  — 

DEAR  SIR  —  1  have  seen  Governor  Smith  of  Vermont,  and  from  him  ob 
tained  all  the  facts  in  relation  to  the  information  he  obtained  from  this  city. 
Inclosed  you  will  please  find  a  copy.  While  in  Turlington  I  obtained  a  white 
linen  handkerchief,  which  was  dropped  in  the  Vermont  Central  Depot,  on 
Thursday  evening,  April  20,  by  one  of  three  strange  men  who  slept  in  depot 
all  Thursday  night.  These  men  came  from  steamer  Canada,  Captain  Flagg. 
fehe  was  very  late  that  evening  ;  did  not  connect  with  the  train  north  (Montreal), 
which  leaves  at  seven  o'clock,  p.  M.  They  came  into  the  depot  between  seven 
ind  a  half  and  eight  o'clock,  after  the  night  watchmen  came  on  duty.  Tney 


384  UNITED   STATES  SECRET   SERVICE. 

had  no  baggage ;  not  even  a  bundle.  They  were  all  rather  poorly  dressed 
looked  rather  hard,  worn-out,  tired.  The  night  watchman,  C.  H.  B.,  i»  a 
sharp,  intelligent  fellow.  lie  asked  them  which  way  they  were  going;  they 
said,  to  Montreal.  He  told  them  that  they  could  not  go  that  night.  They 
knew  that.  He  wanted  to  know  if  they  did  not  want  to  go  to  a  hotel.  They 
said  no,  that  they  were  going  to  stay  in  the  depot.  They  did  not  appear  to 
have  much  of  any  thing  to  do  with  one  another,  or  any  thing  to  say  to  one 
another.  They  took  separate  seats  around  the  room,  curled  themselves  up, 
and  went  to  sleep.  They  remained  quiet  all  night.  About  four  o'clock  A.  M., 
B.  woke  them  up  to  take  the  train,  which  they  did.  After  the  tram  left,  B. 
saw  what  he  supposed  some  dirty  cloth  on  the  floor  about  the  place  where 
one  of  them  slept.  He  picked  this  material  up,  thinking  that  it  would  do  to 
wipe  his  lantern  with.  While  handling  the  stuff,  he  found  that  he  had  got 
two  very  dirty  pocket-handkerchiefs.  They  had  tobacco  juice  all  over  them. 
While  looking  his  prize  over,  he  found  the  name  of  J.  H.  Surratt,  No.  2,  on 
the  corner  of  one  of  the  handkerchiefs.  The  other  was  unmarked.  He  took 
them  home.  His  mother,  with  whom  he  lives,  was  away,  attending  to  a  sick 
brother,  and  did  not  return  until  Saturday  morning.  The  brother  died  on 
Tuesday  evening,  the  night  these  men  remained  in  the  depot.  B.  got  his 
mother  to  wash  the  handkerchiefs,  which  she  did  on  Saturday  morning. 
During  Saturday,  P.  M.,  B.  went  to  the  city  and  told  this  circumstance  of  his 
finding  the  handkerchiefs.  Detective  G.  0.  heard  of  it,  and  got  the  handker 
chief  from  B.,  and  I  got  the  handkerchief  from  C.  Inclosed,  you  will  find 
that — B.  said  one  of  the  men  was  tall,  and  the  others  short.  He  fully  identi 
fies  the  likeness  of  Surratt  as  being  one  of  the  men.  I  then  found  the  con 
ductor  that  ran  the  train  from  Burlington  to  Essex  Junction.  The  baggage 
•man  ran  the  train  up  that  Friday  morning,  the  21st.  He  was  very  sick  when 
I  called  on  him.  He  had  some  recollection  of  three  men  whom  he  found  in 
the  depot,  and  he,  too,  fully  identifies  Surratt's  picture  as  being  that  of  one 
of  the  men  who  went  up  with  him.  I  next  found  the  conductor  who  ran  the 
through  train  to  St.  Alban's,  Vermont.  His  name  is  C.  T.  Hobart,  a  very 
gentlemanly  and  intelligent  man,  belongs  to  the  Vermont  Central  Railroad. 
His  trip  ends  at  St.  Alban's,  Vermont,  on  Tuesdays  and  Fridays.  He  gives 
this  description  of  two  men  who  got  on  his  train  at  Essex  Junction,  Vermont: 
One  very  tall  man,  over  six  feet,  and  a  short  man,  not  much  over  five  feet. 
This  was  on  Friday  morning,  April  21,  5.05  o'clock,  A.  M.,  he  being  twenty- 
five  minutes  late  that  morning.  These  two  men  had  no  money  to  pay  their 
fare  with,  so  they  said.  Their  story  was,  they  were  Canadians,  had  been  to 
New  York  city  to  work.  These  two  and  another  man  roomed  together,  they 
worked  together,  got  paid  off  together.  During  the  night,  after  being  paid 
off,  the  thira  man  got  up,  rifled  their  pockets,  and  made  off  with  all  their 
money.  They  were  penniless;  could  get  money  when  they  got  home;  would 
do  so,  and  would  then  pay  him.  They  had  a  description  of  the  man  who  had 
robbed  them,  which  was  a  copy  of  one  they  gave  to  some  New  York  detec 
tive,  whom  they  named.  The  conductor  had  a  good  deal  of  talk  with  the  tall 
one ;  the  other  would  not  say  any  thing.  He  went  to  them  three  or  four 
times,  for  lie  thought  they  had  money,  but  was  on  the  beat.  The  tall  one 


SUSPICIOUS  TRAVELERS.  385 

cffered  his  coat  as  security.     Conductor  told  them  that  they  were  able-bodied 
Bien,  and  ought  not  to  be  traveling  without  money  to  pay  their  way.     They 
did  not  want  to  go  any  further  than   St.  Alban's,  as  they  would  be  going 
away  from  home  to  continue  on  toward  St.  John's,  C.  E.     Here  is  his  story — 
one  very  tall  man,  six  feet  one  inch,  or  more  (being  taller  thai  the  conductor, 
who  is  five  feet  eleven  and  a  half  inches),  broad  shoulders,  otherwise  slim, 
straight  as  an  arrow;  did  not  look  like  a  laborer,  although  dressed  latl-cr 
poor ;   had  on  a  loose  sack-coat,  colored ;  cassimere  shirt,  all  one  color ;  collar 
some  turned  over ;  an  old  spotted  scarf,  long,  which  hung  down  and  was  held 
by  the  vest,  which  was  light  color,  buttoned  half  way  up,  old  style ;  light-colored 
pants,  being  loose,  had  the  appearance  of  having  no  suspenders  on ;  had  on  a 
light-colored,  tight-fitting  skull-cap.     His  entire  outfit  was  rather  dusty,  dirty, 
and  seedy.     His  hair  was  black  as  jet  and  straight ;  no  beard,  nor  the  appear 
ance  of  any  ;   was  young,  not  more  than  twenty-one  or  twenty-two.     He  left 
the  train  at  St.  Alban's.     The  other  man  was  a  good  deal  shorter,  not  much 
over  five  feet,  thick  set,  short  neck,  full  face,  sandy  complexion,  thin  sandy 
chin  whiskers  or  goatee,  light  in  quantity ;   no  other  beard.     He  wore  a  soft 
black  felt  hat,  very  dusty  ;  dark-colored  sack-coat,  either  black-brown  or  blue; 
light-colored  pants;  reddish-colored  flannel  shirt.     Did  not  see  any  vest,  aa 
he  had  his  coat  buttoned  up.     He  done  but  little  talking — had  not  much  to 
say  for  himself,  let  the  tall  man  do  that.     The  great  object  of  both  was  to  get 
home  to  Canada.     He  got  off  the  train  at  St.  Alban's.     C.  S.  H.  boards  at  the 
Mansion  Hotel  at  St.  Alban's,  and  as  he  was  going  into  the  house  he  saw 
these  two  men  coming  down  the  street  toward  the  house.     He  watched  them 
for  a  few  minutes.     They  turned  the  corner  going  toward  the  depot  again, 
but  they  did  not  take  the  cars  again.     He  fully  identifies  Surratt's  picture  as 
the  tall  one;  the  other  is  not  known.     He  says  he  should  know  Surratt  at  any 
place  or  anywhere.     They  seemed  determined  to  ride  on  the  platform.     H. 
pulled  them  both  in  by  the  collar,  saying  if  they  rode  with  him  they  must  do 
BO  inside,  which  they  did,  keeping  close  to  the  door  all  the  time.     H.  said 
after  he  got  to  bed  he  could  not  go  to  sleep  for  nearly  two  hours,  thinking 
about  those  fellows.     He  felt  as  if  they  had  leat  him,  and  that  they  were  very 
n'kely  a  pair  of  the  assassins.     He  spoke  to  some  friend  about  the  matter,  and 
gave  vent  to  his  suspicions.     He  thought  no  more  of  them  until  I  spoke  to 
him  on  the  subject.     I  never  saw  such  looseness  in  the  police  business  as  they 
have  up  here.     All  these  lines  are  regular  highways  for  men  or  women  of 
e  true  Southern  style.     They  have  no  more  fears  of  passing  through  along 
e  northern  border  of  Vermont  or  New  York  than  though  the  territory  was 
Dixie.     C.,  the  only  one  of  the  six  men  sent  to  Richmond  to  get  the 
raiders'   commissions  who   succeeded  in  getting   through    to   Canada,   came 
boldly  into  St.  Alban's,  registered  his  name  in  full  from  Richmond,  Va.,  care 
lessly  remarking  that  St.  Alban's  was  a  tough  place  for  a  man  to  come  to 
from  Richmond,  Va.     None  molested  him;  he  got  into  Canada  safe  with  his 
papers.     The  Provost-Marshal  at  A.  says  that  he  never  had  any  instructions 
as  to  what  were  his  duties  or  his  powers,  only  to  arrest  deserters  and  forward 
them  to  New  Haven,  Conn.     He  says  he  don't  know  that  he  has  the  power 
to  arrest  or  search  anybody,  and  if  he  had  ever  arrested  anybody,  he  should 
fl 


386  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

have  arrested  them  under  the  very  stringent  vagrant  law  passed  by  Vermont. 
I  asked  him  if  the  commission  of  captain  and  provost-marshal  made  only  a 
town  constable  of  him.  He  said  he  did  not  know  any  thing  of  the  duties  01 
powers  of  the  Provost-Marshal's  office.  He  has  always  been  a  rank  "copper 
head"  Democrat,  but  is  a  brother-in-law  of  Governor  Smith;  so  last  fall  he 
went  the  "•  Reb."  ticket  and  got  appointed  Provost-Marshal.  He  has  just 
gone  out  to  Kansas  City  on  bin.  or  pleasure.  Them  is  a  young  major  Post 
Commandant,  who  has  four  companies  of  vets,  here,  with  some  ten  or  twelve 
officers,  but  two  privates  are  allowed  to  examine  trains  alone.  The  major 
says  that  he  supposed  such  duties  belonged  to  the  Provost-Marshal.  Then 
again,  the  Governor  assumes  some  little  powers  in  small  details.  Power  and 
authority  seem  to  clash — don't  work  together.  As  a  consequence,  nothing  is 
done  by  any  of  them  until  too  late.  Noted  rebels  pass  there  every  week  or 
two  to  New  York  and  back.  A  Miss  M.  came  up  on  Saturday  last.  She  goes 
back  and  forth  at  will,  no  doubt  carrying  letters  and  dispatches.  There  are 
several  men  who  do  the  same.  The  conductors  know  them;  but  there  is  no 
Provost-Marshal  or  other  officer  who  seems  to  have  the  power  or  inclination 
to  arrest  and  search  any  of  these  parties.  There  is  hardly  a  doubt  but  that 
Surratt  and  one  or  two  others  are  in  this  province  ;  who  the  others  are  I  can 
not  tell — may  be  persons  who  are  not  known  to  fame  as  yet.  Inclosed  I  send 
you  a  likeness  of  one  of  the  Paynes,  of  whom  there  are  seven  brothers,  all  Ken- 
tuckians.  Three  are  said  to  be  in  South  America,  one  in  jail  at  St.  Alban's, 
and  the  others  here,  as  you  have  a  Payne,  may  be  one  of  these  brothers.  The 
picture  is  marked  on  the  back.  If  of  no  use,  please  send  it  back  to  the,  owner. 
Mr.  Samuel  Williams,  Secretary  of  Civil  and  Military  Affairs,  St.  Alban's,  Vt 
I  have  placed  those  pictures  in  the  hands  of  the  Provost-Marshal,  American 
consul,  &c.  Shall  go  down  to  Richmond,  C.  E.,  Three  Rivers,  Quebec,  Point 
Levi,  then  through  Upper  Canada.  Any  orders  or  instructions  by  letter  or 
by  telegraph  can  find  me,  directed  to  the  care  of  S.  S.  Potter,  Esq.,  American 
Consul-General,  Montreal,  C.  E.  Shall  drop  any  information  I  can  get.  I  am 
going  out  into  what  are  called  the  townships,  that  portion  of  Ca&ida  East 
bordering  on  Maine,  New  York,  and  Vermont  north.  Many  rebels  are  in 
there.  Young  Saunders  is  out  there  now,  together  with  others.  Potterfield, 
a  dangerous  rebel,  is  making  preparations  to  go  to  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  ought 
not  to  be  allowed.  Towbriclge,  another,  who  ran  a  vessel-load  of  slaves  into 
Mobile  (the  Wanderer),  was  convicted  and  sentenced  to  Clinton  State  Prison, 
but  escaped  from  the  officers,  has  gone  to  Detroit  under  some  protection  got 
by  E.,  who  says  he  is  a  cousin  (cozzen,  I  guess). 
I  am  respectfully,  &c., 

G.  A.  G. 

HEADQUARTERS  UNITED  STATES  BARRACKS,  } 
ST.  ALBAN'S,  VERMONT,  April  80,  1S65.      ) 

MAJOR— One  week  ago  last  Thursday  night  three  men  slept  in  the 
R.  &  B.  Depot,  Burlington,  Vermont.  They  came  in  late  at  night  by  boat, 
and  inquired  for  the  first  train  for  Montreal,  and  took  it,  coming  as  far  as  St. 
Alban's,  Vermont,  when  they  took  stage  to  Franklin,  Vermont,  and  thenc« 
off  out  into  Canada,  A  detective  from  Colonel  Baker's  force  was  through 


THE   PHOTOGRAPHS.  387 

this  place  last  Tuesday,  and  he  exhibited  a  handkerchief  with  Surratt's  name 
npon  it,  which  was  found  in  the  depot  during  the  day,  Friday,  following  the 
Thursday  night  these  men  slept  in  the  building.  These  men,  or  two  in  par 
ticular,  were  noticed  by  the  conductor  on  their  way  to  St.  Alban's,  and  when 
the  photographs  of  Surratt  were  shown  him  he  said  at  once  that  they  fully 
answered  to  one  of  the  men  who  were  on  his  train  the  Friday  morning  spoken 
of.  lie  also  said  the  photograph  of  Harrold  answered  well  for  another  of  the 
men.  The  detective  was  very  sure,  from  his  tracings,  that  Harrold  and  Sur 
ratt  had  passed  through  here  on  the  day  in  question.  Later  developments 
have  proved  him  mistaken  as  to  Harrold.  I  had  men  who  passed  over  every 
train,  and  the  men  saw  these  men,  took  notice  of  them,  &c.,  but  they  did  not 
answer  to  the  description  which  they  had  of  men  they  were  ordered  to  arrest, 
consequently  did  not  arrest  them.  I  have  traced  these  men,  two  of  them,  into 
Canada;  they  live  in  Broom,  have  been  South,  are  deserters  from  our  army, 
and,  upon  the  whole,  desperate  fellows.  This  circumstance,  then,  is  all  thao  is 
worth  noticing.  These  men  are  from  the  South,  and  I  suppose  there  is  littla 
doubt  that  one  of  them  dropped  the  handkerchief  in  question.  Now,  in  view 
of  the  place  they  have  come  from,  and  the  handkerchief,  what  is  the  circum 
stance  worth  ?  The  two  men  I  have  followed  into  Canada  are  both  known  in 
the  town  where  they  were  found,  and  neither  of  them  Surratt  or  Harrold. 
But  still  what  did  they  have  Surratt's  handkerchief  for,  &c.  ?  I  was  told  thii 
man  could  be  found  any  time  in  Swatebury  or  Broom.  What  action  shall  be 
taken  ?  Can  money  expended  in  searching  for  these  men  be  recovered  ? 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  GROUT,  Jr., 
Major  First  Regiment  F.  C.  Commanding  Post. 

To  Major  AUSTIN,  Military  Commander,  Brattleboro,  Vt. 

DEPARTMENT  or  THE  EAST,  NEW  YORK,  May  8, 1865. 
Major-General  J.  A.  Dix,  Commanding: — 

Refers  communication  from  Major  J.  Grout,  Jr.,  dated  at  St.  Alban'a, 
Canada  West,  relative  to  two  suspicious  characters  who  appear  to  be  impli 
cated  in  the  Harrold  and  Surratt  conspiracy. 

Colonel  BURNETT. 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  EAST  » 
NEW  YORK  CITY,  May  8, 1865.  , 

Respectfully  referred  to  the  Adjutant-General,  United  States  Army. 

JOHN  A.  Dix, 
Major-Geieral  Commanding, 

Respectfully  forwarded  to  headquarters  Department  of  the  East,  New 

Tork. 

FR.  AUSTIN, 
Major  U.  S.  A.,  Military  Commander. 

B*AJTLIBOBO,  VERMONT,  May  1, 1865. 


388  UNITED  STATES   SECRET  SEEYICE. 

WAB  DEPARTjreNT,  May  9,  186&. 

Respectfully  referred  to  Colonel  L.  C.  Baker,  Agent  War  Department. 

H.  S.  BURNETT, 
Brevet  Colonel,  Judge- Advocate. 

The  following  letters,  written  a  year  earlier,  of  a  more 
domestic  nature,  will  make  a  fitting  and  rather  amusing 
accompaniment  to  the  story  of  the  handkerchief: — 

SURBATTSYILLB,  MARYLAND,  December  16,  1868. 

Miss  BELL  SEAMAN  :— 

DEAR  COUSIN — "  To  live,  is  to  learn,"  which  has  been  fully  verified  by  the 
contents  of  your  rather  surprising  letter.  I  must  confess,  my  dear  Cousin, 
tha..  your  letter  was  short,  sweet,  and  to  the  point.  D'nkindness  is  something, 
Cousin  Bell,  I  have  never  yet  been  willfully  guilty  of,  yet  no  doubt  you  con 
strued  my  letter  to  that  effect.  "Judge  ye  not,  and  ye  shall  not  be  judged," 
is  a  wise  maxim,  and  one  to  which  I  always  well  look.  uLook  before  you 
leap." 

"Satisfied  ID  my  conclusions,"  is  the  sentence  in  which  you  find  so  much 
fault.  Well,  T,«  there  Cousin,  to  explain  those  four  words,  it  is  necessary  to 
retrace  our  steps  to  a  certain  letter  you  wrote  me,  which  contained  something 
about  "having  more  principle  than  to  hold  an  office  under  a  Government  you 
pretend  to  despise."  In  fact,  you  concluded  that  I  was  a  hot-headed  rebel, 
one  belonging  to  the  horned  tribe,  for  they  tell  me  they  have  horns,  and  that 
I  ought  not  to  hold  an  office  under  this  E poor  busted  up  Union,  consequently 
my  being  superseded,  "satisfied  you  in  your  conclusion."  Is  it  not  so,  my 
dear  Cousin  ?  Do  tell  me,  won't  you  ?  I  sincerely  hope  now,  Cousin,  that  you 
are  really  satisfied  in  your  conclusions  about  my  meaning. 

Anna  started  for  Steubenville,  Ohio,  last  Monday  week,  and  has  arrived, 
safely,  but  I  believe  lost  her  trunk.  I  arrived  from  Washington  a  few  hours 
ago,  and  found  your  letter  awaiting  me.  I  have  proved  my  loyalty,  so  that  it 
cannot  be  doubted,  and  will  regain  my  office  as  P.  M.  Joy  is  mine !  Cousin 
Bell,  I  expect  you  think  I  am  a  hard  case.  Without  doubt  I  am  the  Grossest, 
most  ill-contrived  being  that  ever  was.  Just  ask  Anna,  when  you  see  her, 
for  a  description  of  your  Cousin. 

Pardon  my  conclusion,  but  I  am  getting  really  sleepy.  It  is  now  ten 
c'clock,  an  hour  after  my  bed-time,  for  I  go  by  the  old  saying,  "Early  to  bed, 
and  early  to  rise,  makes  a  man  healthy,  wealthy,  and  wise."  Ma  sends  her 
love  to  you  and  family.  Write  soon,  as  nothing  gives  me  greater  pleasure 
than  to  receive  a  letter  from  you. 

Your  Cousin, 
j  J.  HARRISON  SURRATT. 

SURRATT'S  VILLA,  MARYLAND,  August  1,  1864. 

MY  DEAR  COUSIN  BELL — You  ask  me  if  we  have  warm  weather  in  Mary 
land,  My  Maryland.  If  you  have  it  to  such  a  degree  as  you  represent  it,  up 
North,  what  must  it  be  in  our  hot-headed  South  ?  Yes.  Coz,  if  we  had  you 


"COUSIN   BELL."  339 

here  we  woild  soon  convert  you  into  u sugar,"  and  then  use  yon  to 
sweeten  our  dispositions.  You  know  'tis  the  extremely  hot  weather  that 
makes  us  "Rebs"  so  savage,  cruel,  and  disagreeable.  Yes,  Consin  Bell,  it  is 
BO  waim  that  we  can  neither  eat,  sleep,  sit  down,  stand  up,  walk  about,  and 
in  fact,  to  sum  the  whole  in  a  nutshell,  it  is  too  warm  to  do  any  thing. 

So  you  think  I  have  a  great  deal  of  assurance.  I  am  sorry  to  say  you  are 
the  first  one  that  ever  told  me  so.  On  the  contrary,  I  am  a  very  bashful, 
and  perfectly  unsophisticated  youth.  As  every  thing  pleases  you,  I  am  over 
joyed  to  know  that  you  are  pleased  with  me,  as  very  few  young  ladies  take  a 
fancy  to  me.  I  am  really  delighted.  You  have  told  me  more  than  ever 
woman  dared  to  tell.  Coz.  Bell,  you  ask  me  why  I  do  not  get  married? 
Simply  because  I  can  find  no  one  who  will  have"  me.  Often  have  they  vowed, 
yes.  But-  — 

"This  record  will  forever  stand— 
Woman,  thy  vows  are  traced  in  sand." — BTEOH. 

If  you  know  of  any  lovely  angel,  in  human  form,  desirous  of  a  "  matrimo 
nial  correspondence,"  just  tell  her  to  indite  a  few  lines  to  your  humble  Cousin, 
and  I  can  assure  her  she  will  not  be  sorry  for  it. 

August  Wth. — Well,  Coz.,  I  have  just  been  on  a  visit  of  a  week's  duration. 
It  always  takes  me  about  two  weeks  to  write  a  letter.  Ma  and  Anna  are  sit 
ting  in  the  hall  enjoying  the  evening  breeze,  whilst  I  am  sitting  over  my  desk, 
almost  cracking  my  brain  in  order  to  find  something  to  fill  up  these  pages,  for, 
Cousin  Bell,  you  must  have  perceived,  long  before  this,  that  I  am  a  poor  letter 
writer.  I  had  almost  forgotten  to  tell  you  that  I  called  on  your  friend.  Mr. 
"Win.  Underwood,  at  the  Carver  Hospital.  He  has  nearly  recovered  from  hia 
wound,  though  it  has  not  yet  quite  healed.  He  intended  going  home  in  a 
week  or  two,  and  perhaps  he  may  be  there  now,  as  it  has  been  over  a  week 
since  I  saw  him. 

Have  you  heard  from  your  Uncle  James  lately  ?  There  has  been  some 
very  hard  fighting  out  West  recently,  and  you  know,  Cousin  Bell,  that  the  foe 
has  very  little  regard  where  he  directs  his  bullets.  May  God  preserve  him, 
and  grant  that  he  may  see  the  end  of  this  unholy  war  without  harm.  At 
what  time  does  your  vacation  arrive  ?  Doubtless  you  look  forward  to  that 
time  with  a  great  deal  of  impatience. 

I  am  very  sorry  to  think  that  it  is  your  intention  to  become  an  old  maid. 
The  horrible  creatures !  curses  upon  society!  a  perfect  plague!  always  med 
dling  with  affairs  that  do  not  concern  them  !  This  is  my  opinion  of  old  maids. 
I  express  it  to  you,  because  you  have  not  yet  arrived  at  that  state  of  misery 
and  despair.  They  are  looked  upon  down  our  way  as  unnatural  beings — 
something  forsaken  by  God,  man,  and  devil.  So  beware!  Coz.,  I  met  a 
gentleman  from  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  by  the  name  of  Stevenson, 
who  is  very  well  acquainted  with  the  name  of  Surratt — so  he  says.  Do  you 
know  any  thing  of  him  ?  He  is  a  very  nice  man,  and  a  perfect  gentleman. 
Have  you  heard  any  thing  of  the  Rebel  Captain,  I  have  not  heard  from  him 
for  some  time? 

Really,  I  must  bring  my  tiresome  letter  to  a  close.  Every  thing  looks  like 
•Urvation.  Very  encouraging,  is  it  not  ?  I  hope  you  will  answer  soon,  as 


390  UNITED   STATES   SECRET   SERVICE. 

nothing  gives  me  greater  pleasure  than  to  receive  a  letter  from  you.  Cousin 
Bell,  I  am  not  prone  to  flatter,  so  you  must  believe  what  I  say.  Ma  and 
Anna  send  their  love  to  you.  I  wish  you  knew  Ma,  I  know  you  would  like 
her.  Neither  of  us  is  like  her.  My  brother  resembles  her  very  much.  He 
is  the  best  looking  of  the  family.  That  is  saying  a  good  deal  for  myself. 
Excuse  this  miserable  scrawl,  as  I  have  to  dip  my  pen  in  the  stand  at  every 
word.  Anna  has  just  commenced  playing  the  "Hindoo  Mother."  I  would 
advise  you  to  get  it.  It  is  really  beautiful.  Good-by.  I  hope  to  see  you 
before  many  months. 

Your  Cousin, 

J.  HARRISON  SURRATT. 

"  To  whom  shall  we  Grant  the  Meade  of  praise  ?"     Ha !  ha ! 

OFFICE  or  THE  COMMISSARY-GENERAL  OF  PRISONERS,  > 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  February  6,  1865.  J 

Miss  BELL  SEAMAN: — 

DEAR  COUSIN — I  received  your  letter,  and  not  being  quite  so  selfish  as  you 
are,  I  will  answer  it>  in  what  I  call  a  reasonable  time.  I  am  happy  to  say 
we  are  all  w«ll,  and  in  fine  spirits. 

We  have  been  looking  for  you  to  come  on  with  a  great  deal  of  impatience. 
Do  come,  won't  you  ?  Just  to  think,  I  have  never  yet  seen  one  of  my  cousins. 
But  never  fear,  I  will  probably  see  you  all  sooner  than  you  expect.  Next 
week  I  leave  for  Europe.  Yes,  I  am  going  to  leave  this  detested  country, 
and  I  think,  perhaps,  I  may  give  you  all  a  call  as  I  go  to  New  York.  Do  not 
be  surprised,  Cousin  Bell,  when  you  see  your  hopeful  Cousin.  Truly  you 
may  be  surprised. 

I  have  an  invitation  to  a  party,  to  corne  off  next  Tuesday  night.  Anna 
and  myself  intend  going,  and  expect  to  enjoy  ourselves  very  much.  I  have 
been  to  a  great  many  this  winter,  so  that  they  are  beginning  to  get  common  ; 
but  as  this  is  something  extra,  I  looked  forward  with  a  great  deal  of  impa 
tience.  I  wish  you  were,  in  order  that  I  might  have  the  pleasure  of  intro 
ducing  you  to  regular  country  hoe-down.  I  know  you  would  enjoy  it. 

There  is  no  news  of  importance,  save  the  burning  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institute,  which,  of  course,  you  have  heard  of.  His  Excellency  Jefferson 
Davis  and  Old  Abe  Lincoln  couldn't  agree,  as  sensible  persons  knew  before 
hand;  and  now  I  hope  people  are  satisfied,  and  hope  they  will  make  up  their 
minds  to  fight  it  out  to  the  bitter  end. 

"Show  no  quarter."     That's  "  my  motto." 

Cousin  Bell,  try  and  answer  me  in  a  few  days  at  least,  as  I  would  like 
very  much  to  hear  from  you  before  I  leave  home  for  good.  I  do  not  know 
what  to  think  of  our  mutual  Miss  Kate  Brady.  Byron  justly  remarks — 

"This  record  will  forever  stand — 
Woman,  thy  vows  are  traced  in  sand." 

I  have  just  taken  a  peep  in  the  parlor.  Would  you  like  to  know  what  I 
saw  there?  Well,  Ma  was  sitting  on  the  sofa,  nodding  first  to  one  chair,  then 
to  another,  next  the  piano.  Anna  sitting  in  corner,  dreaming,  I  expect,  of 
J.  W.  Booth.  Well,  who  is  J.  W.  Bwoth  ?  She  can  answer  the  question.  Misa 


MES.  SURRATT— OFFICIAL  DISPATCH— REWARDS.        391 

Fitzpatriok  playing  with  her  favorite  cat — a  good  sign  of  an  old  maid — th« 
detested  old  creatures.  Miss  Dean  fixing  her  hair,  which  is  filled  with  rate 
and  mice. 

But  hark  1  the  door-bell  rings,  and  Mr.  J.  W.  Booth  is  announced.    And 

listen  to  the  scamperings  of  the .     Such  brushing  and  fixing. 

Cousin  Bell,  I  am  afraid  to  read  this  nonsense  over,  so,  consequently,  you 
must  excuse  all  misdemeanors.  We  all  send  love  to  you  and  family.  Tell 
Cousin  Sam.  I  think  he  might  write  me  at  least  a  few  lines. 

Your  Cousin, 

J.  HARRISON  SURRATT, 
541  H  Street,  between  6  and  7  Streets. 


During  my  visits  to  the  prisoners,  before  their  execution, 
Mrs.  Surratt  confessed  to  me  her  complicity  with  the  con 
spirators  so  far  as  the  intended  abduction  was  concerned,  but 
affirmed  that  she  reluctantly  yielded  to  the  urging  of  Booth 
in  aiding  the  plot  of  assassination.  He  insisted  that  her  oath 
of  fidelity  bound  her  to  see  the  fatal  end  of  the  conspiracy. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

ATTEMPTED   SUICIDE   OF  WIRZ. 

My  Connection  with  the  Imprisonment  of  Wirz  and  Jeff.  Davis — Vigilance  in  Guard 
ing  the  Prisoner — Mrs.  Wirz  visits  her  Husband — He  desires  a  Call — The  Inter- 
view — Attempted  Suicide. 

POOR  Wirz,  the  German  prisoner,  keeper  at  Anderson- 
yille,  has  a  place  and  a  name  in  the  history  of  the  American 
conflict,  imperishable  as  that  of  Jefferson  Davis,  and  no  more 
and  no  less  enviable.  He  is  only  the  willing  servant,  in 
war's  cruelest  work,  of  the  master  spirit  of  the  revolt,  who 
richly  deserves  the  disgraceful  doom  of  the  wretched  victim  of 
the  gallows,  to  whom  no  mercy  was  extended.  Not  alone 
by  the  surviving  victims  of  his  barbarity  will  Wirz  be  held 
in  remembrance,  but  by  all  the  loyal  people  of  the  land, 
who  watched  with  intense  interest  the  progress  of  his  trial. 
Soon  as  it  became  evident  that  the  testimony  against  this 
disciple  of  JS~ero  was  sufficiently  strong  to  convict  him,  there 
were  rebel  emissaries  who,  fearing  a  confession  from  his 
lips,  which  would  implicate  Jefferson  Davis  and  others  in 
the  guilt  of  his  crimes,  desired  and  determined,  if  possible, 
to  bring  the  trial  to  a  speedy  close.  Wirz  himself  had 
several  times  intimated  that,  if  convicted,  he  would  make  a 
statement  of  all  the  facts  connected  with  his  administration 
of  the  Andersonville  prison,  which  would  show  conclusively 
that  he  acted  under  the  direct  orders  of  Davis  and  General 
Winder. 

I  had  taken  no  part  in  Wirz' s  trial,  most  of  the  evidence 
having  been  procured  by  military  officers  then  on  duty  at 
the  South.  During  the  last  days  of  the  trial,  Mrs.  Wirz 
appeared  in  Washington,  and  desired  an  interview  with  her 
husband.  The  Secretary  of  War  had  directed  the  officer  in 
•ommand  of  the  prison  to  exercise  the  utmost  caution  in 


S.  - 


MY  VISIT  TO  WIRZ-MRS.  WIRZ.  395 

respect  to  the  prisoner.  It  was  feared  that  he  would  commit 
suicide.  Orders  were  issued  not  to  allow  any  interview  to 
be  had  with  him  under  any  pretense  whatever.  He  was  to 
be  kept  entirely  secluded  from  the  other  prisoners,  and  only 
visited  by  the  clergy  and  his  counsel.  Mrs.  Wirz  applied  to 
me  for  permission  to  see  him.  She  claimed  that  she  desired 
only  to  administer  to  his  comfort,  as  far  as  possible,  and  had 
no  objection  to  the  interview  taking  place  in  the  presence  of 
an  officer  of  the  Government.  Wirz  sent  me  a  request  to 
visit  him,  and  accordingly  I  repaired  to  his  apartment  in  the 
uOld  Capitol."  During  the  conversation,  he  expressed  ear 
nest  desire  to  see  his  wife,  when  I  reminded  him  that  the 
orders  of  the  Secretary  prohibited  such  interviews.  His 
anxiety  was  so  great,  that  I  stated  the  prisoner's  request  to 
Mr.  Stanton,  who  consented  to  a  meeting  in  my  presence, 
with  no  communications  in  their  own  language  between  them. 
He  then  gave  me  the  following  order: 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFIOB,  I 
WASHINGTON,  November  9, 1865.         J 

Major-General  AUGUR,  commanding  Department  of  Washington  : — 

GENERAL — Henry  Wirz  has  sent  a  request  to  General  L.  0.  Baker  to  visit 
him.  The  Secretary  of  War  desires  that  the  authority  be  given  General 
Baker. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  D.  TOWNSEXD, 
Assistant  Acting  Adjutant-General. 

With  this  document  I  procured  a  permit,  and  requested 
Mrs.  Wirz  to  be  at  the  prison  at  four  o'clock  that  day.  The 
interview  took  place,  and  I  shall  never  forget  the  first  meet 
ing  between  Wirz  and  his  wife.  She  exhibited  the  most 
stoical  indifference,  and  simply  said,  "  How  are  you,  Wirz  ?" 
Instead  of  embracing  him,  as  would  naturally  have  been 
expected  under  the  circumstances,  she  sat  down  in  a  chair  in 
front  of  him,  and  looked  at  the  doomed  man  a  moment,  and 
then  gave  utterance  to  the  most  vindictive  words  against  the 
Government,  in  which  he  joined.  Instead  of  talking  of  their 
family  affairs,  the  unfortunate  position  in  which  Wirz  was 
placed,  and  the  probability  of  his  execution,  she  took  occa 
sion  to  denounce  Colonel  Chipman,  Judge- Advocate  of  the 
commission  before  whom  Wirz  was  being  tried,  and  the  wit>- 


396  UNITED  STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

nesses  as  perjurers,  and  in  the  most  threatening  manner  defied 
the  Governmenc  to  carry  the  findings  of  the  commission  into 
execution.  This  interview  finally  closed  in  their  making  an 
appointment  for  another. 

The  conduct  of  Wirz  and  his  wife  was  to  my  mind  very 
suspicious.  I  did  not  conceive  that  such  indifference  was 
natural  under  the  circumstances,  and  determined  to  watch 
their  next  interview  very  closely.  It  came  in  due  time,  and 
was  very  similar  to  the  first  one.  Mrs.  Wirz  sat  in  front  of 
her  husband,  and  I  took  a  position  where  I  could  casually 
observe  the  movements  of  each.  Mrs.  Wirz  took  from  her 
hand  a  glove,  inside  of  which  I  noticed  she  had  a  small 
package  ;  what  it  was  I  could  not  tell.  The  interview  was 
short,  as  both  were  conscious  that  I  was  observing  every  move 
ment.  At  the  third  interview  the  same  thing  was  repeated. 
As  we  all  rose  to  go  to  the  door  leading  to  the  hall,  Wirz 
walking  first,  Mrs.  Wirz  next,  and  myself  at  the  rear,  she 
for  the  first  time  approached  him,  when  they  embraced  and 
put  their  lips  up  to  kiss  each  other.  I  watched  the  motion, 
and  perceived  that  she  was  conveying  something  from  her 
mouth  to  his.  I  sprang  forward  in  an  instant,  caught  him 
by  the  throat,  and  threw  him  on  the  floor.  He  raised  a  pill 
from  his  throat,  brought  it  within  his  teeth,  crushed  it  and 
spit  out.  I  picked  it  up  and  found  it  to  be  a  small  round 
piece  of  strychnine  inclosed  in  a  piece  of  oiled  silk.  Upon 
this  discovery  I  informed  Mrs.  Wirz  that  she  could  have  no 
more  interviews  with  her  husband.  She  was  compelled, 
therefore,  to  leave  him  to  his  fate.  My  next  step  was  to 
inform  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  and  Judge  Holt  of  the 
singular  occurrence.  I  also  showed  to  the  former  the  stry ch  - 
nine  pill.  On  the  day  of  the  prisoner' s  execution,  I  related 
the  poison  scene  to  a  reporter  of  a  New  York  paper.  It  was 
given  to  the  public  by  him.  The  copperhead  press  imme 
diately  opened  their  artillery  of  abuse,  making  me  the  target 
of  bitterest  attack.  The  whole  statement  was  pronounced  a 
fabrication,  while  it  was  verified  entirely  by  Louis  Skade,  the 
counsel  of  Wirz,  and  by  Mrs.  Wirz.  It  is  a  fact,  which  should 
make  the  loyal  men  of  the  land  reflect  deeply,  that  these 
reckless  detractors  of  the  administration  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and 
all  who  aided  him  in  checking  the  insane  revolt,  who  defended 


CHANGE   OF  TONE— REBEL  HATE.  397 

the  vilest  actors  in  the  drama  of  rebellion,  are  to-day  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Johnson  and  his  "policy."  No  reflective 
patriotic  mind  can  exclude  the  doubt  whether  the  infamous 
keeper  of  the  Andersonville  prison  pen  would  have  been 
executed  at  all  had  the  merited  fate  been  delayed  a  few 
months  longer,  until  the  change  in  the  tone  of  the  Presi 
dential  feeling  toward  rebels,  whom  he  had  so  warmly 
condemned  and  warned  that  their  treason  must  be  made 
"odious"  for  all  coming  time.  It  is  more  sad  and  stinging 
to  know  this,  for  those  of  us  who  necessarily  were  familiar 
with  the  character  and  deeds  of  the  brutal  servants  of  Davis 
and  his  counselors  and  commanders.  I  could  narrate  hor 
rors  which  would  stir  the  indignation  of  the  coolest  loyal 
heart,  that  were  openly  or  silently  approved  by  the  Con 
federate  Government ;  and  yet  we  are  asked  to  be  charitable 
and  conciliatory  toward  men  who  hated  with  the  venom  of 
a  Nero  our  slain  President  and  our  "boys  in  blue,"  and 
have  only  changed  from  power  to  wreak  their  vengeance  to 
weakness  that  can  do  no  more  than  nurse  a  disarmed  dis 
loyalty.  If  it  is  true,  in  the  words  of  the  song,  that  John 
Brown' s  soul  is  inarching  on  !  it  is  equally  a  reality  that  the 
souls  of  Booth  and  Wirz  are  still  marching  stealthily  on 
through  the  streets  of  the  cities  and  over  the  plantation  plains 
of  the  "sunny  South." 


ACTUAL  BURIAL-PLACE  OF  BOOTH. 

In  compliance  with  a  promise  made  in  the  Prospectus  of  this  work,  as  well 
as  to  gratify  public  curiosity,  and,  if  possible,  forever  put  at  rest  the  many 
absurd  and  foolish  rumors  in  circulation  concerning  the  final  disposition  of 
the  remains  of  the  assassin,  J.  Wilkes  Booth,  I  submit  the  following  facta  ;  — 

In  order  to  establish  the  identity  of  the  body  of  the  assassin  beyond  al 
question,  the  Secretary  of  War  directed  me  to  summon  a  number  of  witnesses 
residing  in  the  city  of  Washington,  who  had  previously  known  the  murderer. 
Some  two  years  previous  to  the  assassination  of  the  President,  Booth  had  had 
a  tumor  or  carbuncle  cut  from  his  neck  by  a  surgeon.  On  inquiry,  I  ascer 
tained  that  Dr.  May,  a  well-known  and  very  skillful  surgeon,  of  twenty-five 
years'  practice  in  Washington,  had  performed  the  operation. 

Accordingly  I  called  on  Dr.  May.  who,  before  seeing  the  body,  minutely 
described  the  exact  locality  of  the  tumor,  the  nature  and  date  of  the  opera 
tion,  &c.  After  being  sworn,  he  pointed  to  the  scar  on  the  neck,  which  was 


398  UNITED   STATES  SECRET  SERVICE. 

then  plainly  visible.  Five  other  witnesses  were  examined,  all  of  whom  had 
known  the  assassin  intimately  for  years.  The  various  newspaper  accounts, 
referring  to  the  mutilation  of  Booth's  body,  are  equally  absurd.  General 
Barnes,  Surgeon-General  U.  S.  A.,  was  on  board  the  gun-boat  where  the 
post-mortem  examination  was  held,  with  his  assistants.  General  Barnes  cut 
from  Booth's  neck  about  two  inches  of  the  spinal  column  through  which  the 
ball  had  passed  ;  this  piece  of  bone,  which  is  now  on  exhibition  in  the  Gov 
ernment  Medical  Museum,  in  Washington,  is  the  only  relic  of  the  assassin's 
body  above  ground,  and  this  is  the  only  mutilation  of  the  remains  that  ever 
occurred.  Immediately  after  the  conclusion  of  the  examination,  the  Secretary 
of  War  gave  orders  as  to  the  disposition  of  the  body,  which  had  become  very 
offensive,  owing  to  the  condition  in  which  it  had  remained  after  death  ;  the 
leg,  broken  in  jumping  from  the  box  to  the  stage,  was  much  discolored  and 
swollen,  the  blood  from  the  wound  having  saturated  his  under-clothing. 
With  the  assistance  of  Lieut.  L.  B.  Baker,  I  took  the  body  from  the  gun-boat 
direct  to  the  old  Penitentiary,  adjoining  the  Arsenal  grounds.  The  building 
had  not  been  used  as  a  prison  for  some  years  previously.  The  Ordnance 
Department  had  tilled  the  ground-floor  cells  with  fixed  ammunition — one  of 
the  largest  of  these  cells  was  selected  as  the  burial-place  of  Booth— the  ammu 
nition  was  removed,  a  large  flat  stone  lifted  from  its  place,  and  a  rude  grave 
dug ;  the  body  was  dropped  in,  the  grave  filled  up,  the  stone  replaced,  and 
there  rests  to  this  hoar  all  that  remained  of  John  Wilkes  Booth. 


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